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A Study on the Impact of Pilot Carbon Emission Trading Policies on Corporate Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Guihuan Yan

    (Ecology Institute of Shandong Academy of Science (China-Japan Friendly Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250100, China
    Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Carbon Neutrality, Jinan 250100, China)

  • Zhilei Shi

    (Faculty of Economics and Management, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China)

Abstract

This paper uses the carbon emission trading policy as a quasi-natural experiment to comprehensively investigate its impact on the financial and market performance of firms. The study uses data from A-share listed companies for the period from 2009 to 2022 and adopts the difference-in-differences model for a rigorous analysis. The mediating effect of financing constraints and the moderating role of managerial capabilities are examined with respect to the influencing mechanisms; heterogeneity was also analyzed in terms of carbon allowance allocation methods, carbon prices, environmental enforcement efforts, and type of industry. The results of the study show that the carbon trading policy has a significant effect on improving the financial performance of firms, while also inhibiting their market performance. The feasibility of the findings was further validated after conducting robustness tests such as propensity score matching and placebo tests. The mechanism analysis finds that financing constraints play a masking effect on the impact of carbon trading policies on firms’ financial performance; managerial competence can positively moderate firms’ market performance. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the inhibitory effect of emissions trading policies on market performance is more significant for firms in regions with a smaller share of free allowances. For companies in high carbon price regions, carbon trading policies have a more significant impact on financial performance. For companies located in regions with higher levels of environmental enforcement, the positive effect of carbon trading policies on financial performance is unchanged, but the dampening effect on market performance is more significant. Carbon trading policies have a stronger positive effect on the financial performance of high-polluting firms, but a more significant dampening effect on the market performance of low-polluting firms. The findings of this study enhance China’s research framework on the economic impacts of carbon trading policies on micro-enterprises, promoting sustainable business development and serving as a useful reference for policy sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Guihuan Yan & Zhilei Shi, 2024. "A Study on the Impact of Pilot Carbon Emission Trading Policies on Corporate Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:5:p:2214-:d:1352464
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Montgomery, W. David, 1972. "Markets in licenses and efficient pollution control programs," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 5(3), pages 395-418, December.
    2. Oestreich, A. Marcel & Tsiakas, Ilias, 2015. "Carbon emissions and stock returns: Evidence from the EU Emissions Trading Scheme," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 294-308.
    3. Larelle Chapple & Peter M. Clarkson & Daniel L. Gold, 2013. "The Cost of Carbon: Capital Market Effects of the Proposed Emission Trading Scheme ( ETS )," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 49(1), pages 1-33, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lefeng Cheng & Mengya Zhang & Pengrong Huang & Wentian Lu, 2024. "Game-Theoretic Approaches for Power-Generation Companies’ Decision-Making in the Emerging Green Certificate Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-53, December.
    2. Yu Wang & Dejing Meng & Linna Li & Ying Wang, 2025. "Research on the Impact of Market-Based Environmental Regulation Policies on Ecological Pressure: Evidence from China’s Carbon Emissions Trading Pilot," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-26, February.
    3. Rui Zhou & Jiajun Lou & Bing He, 2025. "Greening Corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance: The Impact of China’s Carbon Emissions Trading Pilot Policy on Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, January.
    4. Chi-Wei Su & Yu-Mei Ding & Kai-Hua Wang, 2025. "The dynamic connectedness in the carbon-clean energy-climate policy-green finance-innovation system," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1-38, August.

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