IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/engenv/v35y2024i3p1251-1269.html

Revisiting Hofstede's dimensions of national culture and environmental sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Chi-Jui Huang
  • Heng-Yih Liu
  • Ting-Ling Lin
  • Jia-Yu Lai

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Hofstede's dimensions of national culture on environmental sustainability across 57 countries. Hofstede's national culture construct reflects and gauges the extent of the inclination of a particular national person toward either economic development or environmental preservation. Climate change and pollution have continuously devastated the environment in recent decades. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to achieve a more sustainable future and prevent further environmental destruction. This study aims to explore whether national culture significantly influences national environmental sustainability. We use national environmental performance as the proxy for national environmental sustainability and adopt the ordinary least squares regression model to explore the possible relationship with two datasets of international indices; one is proposed by Hofstede, and the other is proposed by Germanwatch. Our results show that the power distance index has a strong negative impact on the climate change performance index (CCPI), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy, and energy use. Further, the masculinity index is negatively related to CCPI and GHG emissions. The individual index is also negatively related to renewable energy. Furthermore, indulgence is positively associated with climate policy. These findings support the notion that nations should consider their cultural characteristics to improve environmental sustainability. Thus, conducting a national environmental policy that aligns with national culture is suggested to achieve environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Chi-Jui Huang & Heng-Yih Liu & Ting-Ling Lin & Jia-Yu Lai, 2024. "Revisiting Hofstede's dimensions of national culture and environmental sustainability," Energy & Environment, , vol. 35(3), pages 1251-1269, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:engenv:v:35:y:2024:i:3:p:1251-1269
    DOI: 10.1177/0958305X221140579
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0958305X221140579
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/0958305X221140579?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Thompson, Samuel B., 2011. "Simple formulas for standard errors that cluster by both firm and time," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(1), pages 1-10, January.
    2. Stulz, Rene M. & Williamson, Rohan, 2003. "Culture, openness, and finance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 313-349, December.
    3. Luis A. Perez-Batres & Van V. Miller & Michael J. Pisani & Irene Henriques & Jose A. Renau-Sepulveda, 2012. "Why Do Firms Engage in National Sustainability Programs and Transparent Sustainability Reporting?," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 52(1), pages 107-136, February.
    4. Yoori Kim & Soohyeon Kim & Jungho Baek & Eunnyeong Heo, 2019. "The linkages between democracy and the environment: Evidence from developed and developing countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 30(5), pages 821-832, August.
    5. Esty, Daniel C. & Porter, Michael E., 2005. "National environmental performance: an empirical analysis of policy results and determinants," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 391-434, August.
    6. Hoon Park & Clifford Russell & Junsoo Lee, 2007. "National culture and environmental sustainability: A cross-national analysis," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 31(1), pages 104-121, March.
    7. A. Kahuthu, 2006. "Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation in a Global Context," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 55-68, February.
    8. Manuel A. Zambrano-Monserrate & Ivanna Valverde-Baja a & Joseph Aguilar-Boh rquez & Mar a Mendoza-Jim nez, 2016. "Relationship Between Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation: Is there an Environmental Evidence of Kuznets Curve for Brazil?," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 6(2), pages 208-216.
    9. Shortall, Ruth & Kharrazi, Ali, 2017. "Cultural factors of sustainable energy development: A case study of geothermal energy in Iceland and Japan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 101-109.
    10. Esty, Daniel C. & Porter, Michael E., 2005. "National environmental performance: an empirical analysis of policy results and determinants," Environment and Development Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 10(4), pages 381-389, August.
    11. Stern, David I. & Common, Michael S. & Barbier, Edward B., 1996. "Economic growth and environmental degradation: The environmental Kuznets curve and sustainable development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 24(7), pages 1151-1160, July.
    12. Marcus Wagner, 2009. "National culture, regulation and country interaction effects on the association of environmental management systems with environmentally beneficial innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(2), pages 122-136, February.
    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. Sylvie Borau & Robert Mai, 2026. "The gender paradox in pro-environmental engagement: Actionable insights for cause-related marketing and social advocacy campaigns," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 228-253, February.

    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. Muhammad Bilal Khan & Hummera Saleem & Malik Shahzad Shabbir & Xie Huobao, 2022. "The effects of globalization, energy consumption and economic growth on carbon dioxide emissions in South Asian countries," Energy & Environment, , vol. 33(1), pages 107-134, February.
    2. Buehn, Andreas & Farzanegan, Mohammad Reza, 2013. "Hold your breath: A new index of air pollution," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 104-113.
    3. Jesús Peiró-Palomino & Andrés J. Picazo-Tadeo, 2019. "Is Social Capital Green? Cultural Features and Environmental Performance in the European Union," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 72(3), pages 795-822, March.
    4. Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Tarek Rana & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2022. "Democracy, national culture and greenhouse gas emissions: An international study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2978-2991, November.
    5. Graafland, Johan & Noorderhaven, Niels, 2018. "National culture and environmental responsibility research revisited," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 958-968.
    6. Cunha, Barbara & Mani, Muthukumara, 2011. "DR-CAFTA and the environment," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5826, The World Bank.
    7. Daniel Fiorino, 2011. "Explaining national environmental performance: approaches, evidence, and implications," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 44(4), pages 367-389, November.
    8. B. Venkatraja, 2021. "Does China exhibit any evidence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve? An ARDL bounds testing approach," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 88-110,111-.
    9. Sabuj Kumar Mandal & Devleena Chakravarty, 2017. "Role of energy in estimating turning point of Environmental Kuznets Curve: an econometric analysis of the existing studies," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 19(2), pages 387-401, October.
    10. Cosmina L. Voinea & Bas-Jan Hoogenberg & Cosmin Fratostiteanu & Hammad Bin Azam Hashmi, 2020. "The Relation between Environmental Management Systems and Environmental and Financial Performance in Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-21, July.
    11. Devleena Chakravarty & Sabuj Kumar Mandal, 2019. "Environmental Kuznets curve for local and global pollutants: application of GMM and random coefficient panel data models," Journal of Social and Economic Development, Springer;Institute for Social and Economic Change, vol. 21(2), pages 212-233, December.
    12. Simplice A. Asongu & Raufhon Salahodjaev, 2022. "Do female parliamentarians improve environmental quality? Cross-country evidence," Working Papers of The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA). 22/001, The Association for Promoting Women in Research and Development in Africa (ASPROWORDA).
    13. Nesta, Lionel & Vona, Francesco & Nicolli, Francesco, 2014. "Environmental policies, competition and innovation in renewable energy," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(3), pages 396-411.
    14. Asma Awan & Sidra Nawaz, 2022. "Towards Green Growth: Monitoring Progress and Investigating Its Determinants in South Asia," Journal of Economic Impact, Science Impact Publishers, vol. 4(3), pages 252-264.
    15. Urszula Widelska & Marta Jarocka & Laima Jesevičiūtė-Ufartienė & Živilė Jezerskė, 2021. "Customer orientated leader – contribution to future research," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 8(3), pages 40-52, March.
    16. Abid, Mehdi, 2016. "Impact of economic, financial, and institutional factors on CO2 emissions: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa economies," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 85-94.
    17. Dohyung Kim & Sun Go, 2020. "Human Capital and Environmental Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-14, June.
    18. Panteli Maria & Delipalla Sofia, 2022. "The Impact of Institutions on Economic and Environmental Performance: Evidence From Europe," South East European Journal of Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 17(2), pages 125-141, December.
    19. Odilon Costa & Franz Fuerst & Spenser Robinson & Wesley Mendes-da-Silva, 2017. "Are Green Labels More Valuable in Emerging Real Estate Markets?," LARES lares_2017_paper_5, Latin American Real Estate Society (LARES).
    20. Zhao, Xingqi & Ke, Xiaojun & Jiang, Songyu, 2024. "Spatial impact of green finance reform pilot zones on environmental efficiency: A pathway to mitigating China's energy trilemma," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).

    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:sae:engenv:v:35:y:2024:i:3:p:1251-1269. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.