Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy
Urban digital infrastructure is the cornerstone of optimizing resource allocation and promoting sustainable economic development in the era of digital economy, and it will also affect corporate ESG performance. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021, an asymptotic di...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Systems |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/10/515 |
| _version_ | 1797572217389711360 |
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| author | Chenchen Zhai Xinyi Ding Xue Zhang Shaoxiang Jiang Yue Zhang Chengming Li |
| author_facet | Chenchen Zhai Xinyi Ding Xue Zhang Shaoxiang Jiang Yue Zhang Chengming Li |
| author_sort | Chenchen Zhai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urban digital infrastructure is the cornerstone of optimizing resource allocation and promoting sustainable economic development in the era of digital economy, and it will also affect corporate ESG performance. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021, an asymptotic difference-in-difference model is used to investigate the impact of urban digital infrastructure on corporate ESG performance based on the “broadband China” strategy and its underlying mechanism. This paper finds that urban digital infrastructure can promote corporate ESG performance. Further, urban digital infrastructure can contribute to corporate ESG performance by increasing research and development (R&D) investment, improving corporate governance, and increasing information transparency. Through heterogeneity analysis, the results show urban digital infrastructure contributes more significantly to the ESG performance of state-owned, small and medium, growth-stage, and low-profit companies and is more pronounced in non-heavy polluting companies and companies in the central and western regions. This paper has enhanced the theoretical framework of urban digital infrastructure and corporate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance, paving the way for a new approach to the collaborative development of cities and enterprises in pursuit of green and sustainable growth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:51:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4c3fc26fac94d6297c0052d19b33163 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-8954 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:51:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4c3fc26fac94d6297c0052d19b331632023-11-19T18:19:52ZengMDPI AGSystems2079-89542023-10-01111051510.3390/systems11100515Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China PolicyChenchen Zhai0Xinyi Ding1Xue Zhang2Shaoxiang Jiang3Yue Zhang4Chengming Li5School of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, ChinaSchool of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, ChinaInstitute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaSchool of Economics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaSchool of Economics, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081, ChinaUrban digital infrastructure is the cornerstone of optimizing resource allocation and promoting sustainable economic development in the era of digital economy, and it will also affect corporate ESG performance. Based on the data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2021, an asymptotic difference-in-difference model is used to investigate the impact of urban digital infrastructure on corporate ESG performance based on the “broadband China” strategy and its underlying mechanism. This paper finds that urban digital infrastructure can promote corporate ESG performance. Further, urban digital infrastructure can contribute to corporate ESG performance by increasing research and development (R&D) investment, improving corporate governance, and increasing information transparency. Through heterogeneity analysis, the results show urban digital infrastructure contributes more significantly to the ESG performance of state-owned, small and medium, growth-stage, and low-profit companies and is more pronounced in non-heavy polluting companies and companies in the central and western regions. This paper has enhanced the theoretical framework of urban digital infrastructure and corporate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance, paving the way for a new approach to the collaborative development of cities and enterprises in pursuit of green and sustainable growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/10/515urban digital infrastructurecorporate ESG performancesustainable developmentquasi-natural experiment |
| spellingShingle | Chenchen Zhai Xinyi Ding Xue Zhang Shaoxiang Jiang Yue Zhang Chengming Li Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy Systems urban digital infrastructure corporate ESG performance sustainable development quasi-natural experiment |
| title | Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy |
| title_full | Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy |
| title_short | Assessing the Effects of Urban Digital Infrastructure on Corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance: Evidence from the Broadband China Policy |
| title_sort | assessing the effects of urban digital infrastructure on corporate environmental social and governance esg performance evidence from the broadband china policy |
| topic | urban digital infrastructure corporate ESG performance sustainable development quasi-natural experiment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-8954/11/10/515 |
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