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The Impact Mechanism of Digital Transformation on the Risk-Taking Level of Chinese Listed Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Debao Dai

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Shengnan Han

    (School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China)

  • Min Zhao

    (SILC Business School, Shanghai University, Shanghai 201800, China)

  • Jiaping Xie

    (School of Business, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai 200433, China)

Abstract

As the core engine of the digital economy, the digital transformation can make modern enterprises survive and develop better now. By the sample data of listed companies in the years from 2015 to 2020, this paper identifies the degree of enterprise digital transformation through text analysis, empirically examines the impact mechanism of digital transformation on corporate risk-taking, and fully considers the heterogeneity problems. The findings are as follows: (1) Digital transformation can improve the level of enterprise risk taking, especially the improvement of enterprise financial stability and strategic risk taking; (2) in terms of enterprise attribute structure, digital transformation can significantly enhance the risk-taking level of non-state-owned enterprises and high-tech enterprises; (3) the mechanism identification test finds that innovation-driven and enterprise value enhancement play a strengthening role in the role of digital transformation in promoting enterprise risk-taking level, and resource allocation efficiency as a mediating path weakens the role of digital transformation on enterprise risk-taking level. This study provides a basis for promoting the improvement of enterprises risk-taking: digital transformation can help enterprises maintain financial stability, improve innovation output capacity, enterprise value level, enterprise risk-taking capacity and sustainable development. At the same time, the Chinese government should take measures to further stimulate the willingness of state-owned enterprises to digital transformation.

Suggested Citation

  • Debao Dai & Shengnan Han & Min Zhao & Jiaping Xie, 2023. "The Impact Mechanism of Digital Transformation on the Risk-Taking Level of Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1938-:d:1041526
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Dongqing Han & Dayong Zhang & Peng Yue & Zhengxu Cao, 2024. "Toward Sustainable Development: Can Digital Transformation of Industrial Enterprise Drive Carbon Reduction?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Na Xu & Wendong Lv & Junli Wang, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on firm performance: a perspective from enterprise risk management," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(2), pages 369-400, June.
    3. Qin, Shuyuan & Liu, Ziqi & Wang, Jie & Wu, Yongqiu, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on labour demand quantity and structure: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 1452-1469.
    4. Yunis, Manal & Mirza, Nawazish & Safi, Adnan & Umar, Muhammad, 2024. "Impact of audit quality and digital transformation on innovation efficiency: Role of financial risk-taking," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Luo, Wenbing & Yu, Yuxin & Deng, Mingjun, 2024. "The impact of enterprise digital transformation on risk-taking: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    6. Yang, Yuzhen & Tang, Mingfu, 2025. "Analysis of the impact mechanisms of the digital economy and executive risk preference on the intelligent transformation of enterprises," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    7. Ding, Xiaowei & Vuković, Darko B. & Sokolov, Boris I. & Vukovic, Natalia & Liu, Yali, 2024. "Enhancing ESG performance through digital transformation: Insights from China's manufacturing sector," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Jiang, Li & Li, Bin & Zhang, Min, 2025. "The impact of digital transformation on the efficiency of corporate resource allocation: Internal mechanisms and external environment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).

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