Post-regulation effect on factors driving environmental disclosures among Chinese listed firms

Yekini, Kemi; Adelopo, Ismail; Wang, Yan; Song, Surong

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study re-examines the factors that affect the level of Environmental Information
Disclosures (EID) following the issuance of the “Environmental Information Disclosure Guidelines
for Chinese Listed Companies”.

//DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The study is underpinned by stakeholder and legitimacy theories.
Level of EID was measured for 100 Chinese companies using a scoring system and content analysis
of their annual reports. The study explored the effect of ownership structure, managerial shareholding,
economic power and industry classification on the level of EID using panel regression.


//FINDINGS: The study revealed that with clearly spelt out guidelines, Chinese companies are prepared
to disclose environmental information regardless of their economic power. We find that the overall
level of EID in China remains lower when compared with developed economies. The findings are
robust across several econometric models that sufficiently address various endogeneity problems.


//ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper contributes to the existing literature by using new and updated data to
re-examine the factors that affect the level of EID among Chinese listed companies. The study is
important and timely as it covers the period of 2014 - 2016 which is after the Chinese government
strengthened the enforcement of EID. It highlights the effects of new regulations and underscored areas
that still require government attention to foster effective environmental protection.

Citation

Yekini, K., Adelopo, I., Wang, Y., & Song, S. (2019). Post-regulation effect on factors driving environmental disclosures among Chinese listed firms. Accounting Research Journal, 32(3), 477-495. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-01-2017-0018

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 10, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 27, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jan 8, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 8, 2020
• Journal: Accounting Research Journal
• Print ISSN: 1030-9616
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 477-495
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ARJ-01-2017-0018
• Keywords: China, Environmental disclosure, Legitimacy theory, Stakeholder theory, Post-regulation