IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i9p3982-d1644969.html

The Influence of Institutional Pressures on Environmental, Social, and Governance Responsibility Fulfillment: Insights from Chinese Listed Firms

Author

Listed:
  • Haoming Ding

    (The Graduate School of Business Administration, Hoseo University, 12 Hoseodae-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si 31066, Republic of Korea)

  • Zerui Wang

    (The Graduate School of Business Administration, Hoseo University, 12 Hoseodae-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan-si 31066, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Grounded in institutional theory, this study uses a sample of A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2023 to empirically examine the effects of coercive, mimetic, and normative pressures on corporate ESG responsibility. The results indicate that coercive and mimetic pressures significantly promote ESG responsibility fulfilment, while normative pressures have a negative impact. This research expands the application of institutional theory to ESG practices, offering valuable insights for policymakers, regulators, and corporate managers. By strengthening supervision, promoting industry best practices, and fostering social responsibility awareness, corporate ESG fulfilment can be further advanced, driving sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Haoming Ding & Zerui Wang, 2025. "The Influence of Institutional Pressures on Environmental, Social, and Governance Responsibility Fulfillment: Insights from Chinese Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3982-:d:1644969
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3982/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/9/3982/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alan Lewis & Carmen Juravle, 2010. "Morals, Markets and Sustainable Investments: A Qualitative Study of ‘Champions’," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 483-494, May.
    2. Oren Mooneeapen & Subhash Abhayawansa & Naushad Mamode Khan, 2022. "The influence of the country governance environment on corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 953-985, May.
    3. Salaheldin Hamad & Fong‐Woon Lai & Muhammad Kashif Shad & Zdeňka Konečná & Feybi Ariani Goni & Abdoulmohammad Gholamzadeh Chofreh & Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, 2022. "Corporate governance code and voluntary disclosure of integrated reporting: Evidence from an emerging economy," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(6), pages 1497-1510, December.
    4. Chitra Sriyani De Silva Lokuwaduge & Kumudini Heenetigala, 2017. "Integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Disclosure for a Sustainable Development: An Australian Study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 438-450, May.
    5. Oren Mooneeapen & Subhash Abhayawansa & Naushad Mamode Khan, 2022. "The influence of the country governance environment on corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 953-985, May.
    6. Bryan W Husted & David B Allen, 2006. "Corporate social responsibility in the multinational enterprise: strategic and institutional approaches," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 838-849, November.
    7. S. Zeng & X. Xu & H. Yin & C. Tam, 2012. "Factors that Drive Chinese Listed Companies in Voluntary Disclosure of Environmental Information," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 109(3), pages 309-321, September.
    8. Haoqiang Yuan & Haiyan Luan & Xi Wang, 2024. "The Impact of ESG Rating Events on Corporate Green Technology Innovation under Sustainable Development: Perspectives Based on Informal Environmental Regulation of Social Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-26, September.
    9. Haoming Ding & Wei Han & Zerui Wang, 2024. "Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) and Total Factor Productivity: The Mediating Role of Financing Constraints and R&D Investment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Haoming Ding & Zerui Wang & Hanyu Xu & Zi Lin, 2024. "A Study on the Impact of Board Characteristics on the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Responsibilities of Listed Companies—Evidence from Chinese Listings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-16, November.
    11. Guangyou Zhou & Lian Liu & Sumei Luo, 2022. "Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3371-3387, November.
    12. Breuer, Wolfgang & Müller, Torbjörn & Rosenbach, David & Salzmann, Astrid, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility, investor protection, and cost of equity: A cross-country comparison," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 34-55.
    13. Meng, Jia & Zhang, ZhongXiang, 2022. "Corporate environmental information disclosure and investor response: Evidence from China's capital market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:14:p:2486-2493 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. repec:bcp:journl:v:9:y:2025:i:11:p:8102-8122 is not listed on IDEAS

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xue, Qinyuan & Jin, Yifei & Zhang, Cheng, 2024. "ESG rating results and corporate total factor productivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).
    2. Chen, Pei-Fen & Chen, Mei-Ping, 2025. "Do country sustainability practices matter to happiness?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    3. Costantiello, Alberto & Drago, Carlo & Arnone, Massimo & Leogrande, Angelo, 2024. "Regional Research Intensity and ESG Indicators in Italy: Insights from Panel Data Models and Machine Learning," MPRA Paper 124185, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Liu Xia & Nazneen Fatema & Md. Mominur Rahman & Arman Hossain, 2025. "Nexus of environmental management accounting, and carbon emission management on environmental, social, and governance performance: evidence from symmetrical and asymmetrical approach," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, December.
    5. Wei, Rongrong & Yu, Zhaopeng & Zhen, Deyun, 2025. "The differentiated effect of China's new environmental protection law on corporate ESG performance," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 2126-2141.
    6. Richard Yeaw Chong Seow, 2025. "Environmental, social, and governance reporting in family firms: The critical role of CEO attributes," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(1), pages 70-87, January.
    7. Louis T. W. Cheng & Piyush Sharma & David C. Broadstock, 2023. "Interactive effects of brand reputation and ESG on green bond issues: A sustainable development perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 570-586, January.
    8. Mahdi Ghaemi Asl, 2025. "A novel AI-driven approach to greenwashing: breakthroughs in the future fit between domain-specific Islamic enterprises with varying developmental progress and ESG landscapes," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-38, December.
    9. Li, Houjian & Cheng, Quanfeixue & Su, Mengying & Zhang, Kuan, 2025. "Empowering ESG: The pivotal influence of directors' and officers' liability insurance on corporate sustainability," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    10. Changlin Ji & Yuwei Feng, 2025. "RETRACTED ARTICLE: Evaluating the Innovation-Boosting Potential of Low-Carbon Pilot Policies: A Multi-Subject Co-Governance Perspective," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(2), pages 6033-6072, June.
    11. Victoria Bogdan & Claudia Diana Sabău-Popa & Marcel-Ioan Boloș & Dorina-Nicoleta Popa & Mărioara Beleneși, 2022. "Tracking Waste Management Information Disclosure Behavior Connected to Financial Performance through Moderating Variables," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-25, October.
    12. Esparcia, Carlos & Gubareva, Mariya & Sokolova, Tatiana & Jareño, Francisco, 2025. "Cross-border ESG rating dynamics: An in-depth connectedness analysis of portfolio returns and volatilities in the USA and Canada," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(PA).
    13. Shi, Dinghao & Tan, Haoyu & Ling, Yixin & Liu, Yunuo & Liu, Bo & Tu, Yongqian, 2025. "Impact of environmental information uncertainty and market competition on corporate ESG performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    14. Yang Liu & Sameer Kumar & Huiqing Liu & Shun Li & Ziyun Zhou, 2025. "ESG performance, digital transformation, and green innovation," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Mohapatra, Swati & Kumar, Ashish & Mohapatra, Malaya Ranjan & Srivastava, Vikas, 2025. "Does CEO duality moderate environmental, social, and governance performance-earnings management relationship? Evidence from emerging markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    16. Wang, AnChao & Saqib, Abdul, 2025. "How entrepreneurship drives ESG performance: The roles of data assetization and financing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    17. Ayadi, Imen & Abderrahman, Jahmane, 2025. "The impact of economic policy uncertainty and digital integration on ESG practices in European companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    18. Feng, Ruonan & Ma, Lu & Wu, Dan, 2025. "ESG performance and corporate innovation under the moderating effect of firm size," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    19. Rabiu Saminu Jibril, 2025. "Corporate ownership structure, energy and emissions disclosure: Does firm political connection encourage environmental sustainability in an emerging economy?," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(4), pages 1005-1022, December.
    20. Qinglan Wu & Guifu Chen & Jing Han & Liyan Wu, 2022. "Does Corporate ESG Performance Improve Export Intensity? Evidence from Chinese Listed Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-16, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3982-:d:1644969. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.