IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v27y2025i2d10.1007_s10668-023-04063-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does air pollution affect corporate shareholder responsibility performance?: Analysis of regression discontinuity design based on the "Qinling-Huaihe" line

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaowei Ding

    (People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University))

  • Darko B. Vukovic

    (RUND University
    Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijic” SASA)

  • Riad Shams

    (Northumbria University)

  • Natalia Vukovic

    (HSE University)

Abstract

Based on the spillover effects of pollution and shareholder value theory, this paper constructs a regression discontinuity model using panel data from Chinese manufacturing companies for the period 2015–2020. Using the 'Qinling-Huaihe' line as an instrumental variable, we employ a two-stage least squares approach to estimate the impact mechanism of air pollution on Corporate Shareholder Responsibility Performance (CSRP). The baseline regression results indicate that air pollution significantly inhibits CSRP. Furthermore, we have tested the robustness of these results through sensitivity tests, including bandwidth selection and polynomial-order selection for the assignment variable, adjustments to the time window, the inclusion of omitted variables, the removal of off-site relocated firms, and the replacement of independent and instrumental variables. Additionally, we have found that the relationship between air pollution and CSRP varies among different environmental attributes and regional characteristic subgroups. Mechanistic analyses indicate that the relationship between air pollution and CSRP is positively moderated by environmental regulation and CEO duality. However, economic policy uncertainty does not exert a moderating effect. Additionally, air pollution inhibits CSRP by reducing corporate cash holdings, causing brain drain, and decreasing investment in R&D. Therefore, the control of air pollution is imperative. Environmental governance can be strengthened by broadening financing channels and creating stable institutional environments, thereby enhancing CSRP. Our findings carry significant implications for the development of government macro-policies and corporate environmental decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaowei Ding & Darko B. Vukovic & Riad Shams & Natalia Vukovic, 2025. "Does air pollution affect corporate shareholder responsibility performance?: Analysis of regression discontinuity design based on the "Qinling-Huaihe" line," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 4083-4116, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04063-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-023-04063-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-023-04063-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-023-04063-6?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Burkhardt, Jesse & Bayham, Jude & Wilson, Ander & Carter, Ellison & Berman, Jesse D. & O'Dell, Katelyn & Ford, Bonne & Fischer, Emily V. & Pierce, Jeffrey R., 2019. "The effect of pollution on crime: Evidence from data on particulate matter and ozone," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Anobua Acha Arnaud Martial & Huang Dechun & Liton Chandra Voumik & Md. Jamsedul Islam & Shapan Chandra Majumder, 2023. "Investigating the Influence of Tourism, GDP, Renewable Energy, and Electricity Consumption on Carbon Emissions in Low-Income Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Lubos Pástor & Pietro Veronesi, 2012. "Uncertainty about Government Policy and Stock Prices," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 67(4), pages 1219-1264, August.
    4. Antoine Dechezleprêtre & Misato Sato, 2017. "The Impacts of Environmental Regulations on Competitiveness," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 11(2), pages 183-206.
    5. Liguang Zhang & Liao Peng & Kang He, 2021. "Does air pollution affect executive pay?," China Journal of Accounting Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(2), pages 247-267, April.
    6. Dawood Ashraf & Mohsin Khawaja & M. Ishaq Bhatti, 2022. "Raising capital amid economic policy uncertainty: an empirical investigation," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-32, December.
    7. Sara De Masi & Agnieszka Słomka‐Gołębiowska & Claudio Becagli & Andrea Paci, 2021. "Toward sustainable corporate behavior: The effect of the critical mass of female directors on environmental, social, and governance disclosure," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1865-1878, May.
    8. Xiaokang Yang & Junbing Xu & Minling Zhu & Yinglong Yang, 2022. "Environmental regulation and corporate tax avoidance—Evidence from China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(1), pages 1-12, January.
    9. Lin, Hsing-Er & Yu, Andy & Stambaugh, Jeff & Tsao, Chiung-Wen & Wang, Rebecca Jen-Hui & Hsu, I-Chieh, 2023. "Family CEO duality and research and development intensity in public family enterprises: Temporality as a model boundary," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    10. Joshua Graff Zivin & Matthew Neidell, 2012. "The Impact of Pollution on Worker Productivity," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 102(7), pages 3652-3673, December.
    11. Scott R. Baker & Nicholas Bloom & Steven J. Davis, 2016. "Measuring Economic Policy Uncertainty," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 131(4), pages 1593-1636.
    12. Akpalu, Wisdom & Normanyo, Ametefee K., 2017. "Gold Mining Pollution and the Cost of Private Healthcare: The Case of Ghana," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 104-112.
    13. Levy, Tamir & Yagil, Joseph, 2011. "Air pollution and stock returns in the US," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 374-383, June.
    14. Demir, Ender & Ersan, Oguz, 2017. "Economic policy uncertainty and cash holdings: Evidence from BRIC countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 189-200.
    15. Mbanyele, William & Huang, Hongyun & Li, Yafei & Muchenje, Linda T. & Wang, Fengrong, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility and green innovation: Evidence from mandatory CSR disclosure laws," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    16. Xue, Shuyu & Zhang, Bohui & Zhao, Xiaofeng, 2021. "Brain drain: The impact of air pollution on firm performance," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    17. Wu, Haitao & Xia, Yufeng & Yang, Xiaodong & Hao, Yu & Ren, Siyu, 2021. "Does environmental pollution promote China's crime rate? A new perspective through government official corruption," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 292-307.
    18. Li, Baoxi & Cheng, Shixiong & Xiao, De, 2020. "The impacts of environmental pollution and brain drain on income inequality," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    19. Riaqa Mubeen & Dongping Han & Jaffar Abbas & Iftikhar Hussain, 2020. "The Effects of Market Competition, Capital Structure, and CEO Duality on Firm Performance: A Mediation Analysis by Incorporating the GMM Model Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    20. Liu, Fengqi & Kang, Yuxin & Guo, Kun & Sun, Xiaolei, 2021. "The relationship between air pollution, investor attention and stock prices: Evidence from new energy and polluting sectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    21. Sandra Alves, 2021. "CEO duality, earnings quality and board independence," Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(2), pages 217-231, August.
    22. Bing Zhou & Jing Wu & Sidai Guo & Mingxia Hu & Jing Wang, 2020. "Environmental regulation and financial performance of Chinese listed companies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-18, December.
    23. Alam, Ahmed W. & Farjana, Ashupta & Houston, Reza, 2023. "State-level economic policy uncertainty (EPU) and firm financial stability: Is there any political insurance?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    24. Kenji Kondoh, 2007. "Trans‐boundary Pollution and Brain Drain Migration," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(2), pages 333-345, May.
    25. Wei Wang & Hailin Chen, 2023. "Extrusion Effect or Promotion Effect? The Effect of Environmental Regulation on Enterprise Green Innovation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-18, January.
    26. Weibing Li & Kaixia Zhang, 2019. "Does Air Pollution Crowd Out Foreign Direct Investment Inflows? Evidence from a Quasi-natural Experiment in China," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(4), pages 1387-1414, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items 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. Hamza Almustafa & Imad Jabbouri & Ploypailin Kijkasiwat, 2023. "Economic Policy Uncertainty, Financial Leverage, and Corporate Investment: Evidence from U.S. Firms," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-19, January.
    2. Das, Debojyoti & Kannadhasan, M. & Bhattacharyya, Malay, 2019. "Do the emerging stock markets react to international economic policy uncertainty, geopolitical risk and financial stress alike?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 1-19.
    3. Sabani, Nazmie & Bales, Stephan & Burghof, Hans-Peter, 2024. "On the different impact of local and national sources of policy uncertainty on sectoral stock volatility," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(PB).
    4. He, Feng & Wang, Ziwei & Yin, Libo, 2020. "Asymmetric volatility spillovers between international economic policy uncertainty and the U.S. stock market," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    5. Li, Rong & Liu, Luxi & Qiu, Yun & Tian, Xiaohui, 2024. "Air pollution and stock returns: The cash flow risk channel," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Yu, Shuangli & Shen, Yuxin & Zhang, Fan & Shen, Yongjian & Xu, Zefeng, 2022. "Air pollution and executive incentive: Evidence from pay-performance sensitivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    7. Vural-Yavaş, Çiğdem, 2020. "Corporate risk-taking in developed countries: The influence of economic policy uncertainty and macroeconomic conditions," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    8. Zhang, Cheng & Yang, Chunhong & Liu, Cheng, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty and corporate risk-taking: Loss aversion or opportunity expectations," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    9. Sandra Aguilar-Gomez & Nathaly M. Rivera, 2024. "Air Pollution in the Global South: An Overview of Its Sources and Impacts," Working Papers wp561, University of Chile, Department of Economics.
    10. Shr, Yau-Huo & Hsu, Wen & Hwang, Bing-Fang & Jung, Chau-Ren, 2023. "Air quality and risky behaviors on roads," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    11. Caixe, Daniel Ferreira, 2022. "Corporate governance and investment sensitivity to policy uncertainty in Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PB).
    12. Cui, Xin & Wang, Chunfeng & Liao, Jing & Fang, Zhenming & Cheng, Feiyang, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty exposure and corporate innovation investment: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    13. Guo, Liwen & Cheng, Zhiming & Tani, Massimiliano & Cook, Sarah, 2024. "Air pollution and education investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    14. Zhang, Yaojie & Zhao, Xinyi & Zhang, Zhikai, 2025. "Financial regulatory policy uncertainty: An informative predictor for financial industry stock returns," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(PB).
    15. Safiullah, Md & Kabir, Md. Nurul, 2024. "Corporate political risk and environmental performance," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    16. Li, Xiang & Su, Dan, 2020. "How does economic policy uncertainty affect corporate debt maturity?," IWH Discussion Papers 6/2020, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    17. Donadelli, Michael & Gufler, Ivan & Pellizzari, Paolo, 2020. "The macro and asset pricing implications of rising Italian uncertainty: Evidence from a novel news-based macroeconomic policy uncertainty index," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    18. Nguyen, Giang & Vo, Vinh, 2024. "Economic policy uncertainty around the world: Implications for Vietnam," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    19. Yi Zhang & Mengyang Wang & Tao Shi & Huan Huang & Qi Huang, 2023. "Health Damage of Air Pollution, Governance Uncertainty and Economic Growth," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-21, February.
    20. Boulton, Thomas J., 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and international IPO underpricing," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

    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:spr:endesu:v:27:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10668-023-04063-6. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.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.