Search Results (227)

This study uses financial data from 872 Chinese listed companies (2018–2022). It tests the triple dividend effect and threshold effect of China’s environmental protection tax (EPT) using high-dimensional fixed effects models and panel threshold models. We document that (1) EPT creates an environmental dividend for Chinese listed companies. It significantly reduces pollution emissions. A 1-unit tax increase reduces LnTPPE by 2.5%. (2) EPT creates a significant innovation dividend. It forces enterprises to improve the quality of authorized patents. A 1-unit tax increase raises patent technological complexity by 0.79%. (3) EPT creates an economic dividend. It significantly improves firm performance. A 1-unit tax increase raises relative corporate revenue by 38.1%. (4) EPT exerts significant threshold effects on micro-level triple dividend outcomes among Chinese listed companies. A heterogeneity analysis shows significant differences in threshold effects between non-heavily polluting and heavily polluting industries. This study confirms that China’s EPT generates a micro-level triple dividend effect alongside coexisting threshold effects for listed companies. This provides literature references for China to design and implement differentiated policies and offers a quantitative empirical case for implementing globally sustainable EPT strategies. Full article

Government support has long been viewed as a key driver of sustainable transformation and green technological progress. However, the underlying mechanisms (“how”) through which preferential policies influence green innovation, as well as the contextual conditions (“when”) that shape their effectiveness, remain insufficiently understood. Drawing on resource dependence theory, this study develops a dual-mediation framework to investigate how preferential tax policies promote both the quantity and quality of green innovation—by enhancing R&D investment as an internal mechanism and alleviating financing constraints as an external mechanism. These effects are especially salient among non-state-owned enterprises, firms in resource-constrained industries, and those situated in environmentally challenged regions—contexts that entail higher dependence on external support for sustainable development. Leveraging China’s 2017 R&D tax reduction policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study uses a sample of high-tech small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to test the hypotheses. The findings provide robust evidence on how preferential policies contribute to corporate sustainability through green innovation and identify the conditions under which policy tools are most effective. This research offers important implications for designing targeted, sustainability-oriented innovation policies that support SMEs in transitioning toward more sustainable practices. Full article

China’s internal control framework follows the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) framework, emphasizing enterprise risk management and encompassing financial reporting, operations, compliance, and strategies. The authors review research that uses the COSO-based Internal Control Index to assess internal control quality among all publicly listed firms in China. Unlike the binary classification of internal control weaknesses under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404, this continuous index captures more nuanced variations in internal control effectiveness and provides two key advantages over traditional assessment of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR). First, while financial reporting can enhance a firm’s monitoring and decision-support systems, the underlying information is determined by operations. Thus, internal control over operations has a greater impact on a firm’s performance than ICFR. While U.S.-based research argues that the effects of ICFR extend to operations, the COSO-based index includes operational controls, allowing for a more direct study of internal control effects. Second, many U.S. corporations fail to report internal control weaknesses, particularly during misstatement years. In contrast, the COSO-based index, compiled by independent scholars, avoids managerial incentives to withhold negative internal control information. Covering institutional background and research evidence from China, the authors survey a wide range of internal control studies related to various aspects of enterprise risk management, such as earnings quality, crash risk, stock liquidity, resource extraction, cash holdings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate innovation, receivable management, operational efficiency, tax avoidance, and diversification strategy. Full article

This study investigates the impact of digital transformation on corporate tax avoidance in the banking industry, focusing on banks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This study employs regression analysis on a sample of 123 banks in the MENA region, covering the period from 2011 to 2022. The results indicate a negative relationship between digital transformation and tax avoidance, with conventional banks showing a stronger inclination to adopt these trends compared to Islamic banks. Digital transformation is identified as an effective mechanism that enhances transparency and mitigates tax avoidance activities. Full article

As Chinese firms play pivotal roles in global supply chains, multinational corporations face increasing pressure to ensure ESG accountability across their sourcing networks. Current ESG rating systems lack transparency in incorporating China’s unique industrial, economic, and cultural factors, creating reliability concerns for stakeholders managing supply chain sustainability risks. This study develops an explainable artificial intelligence framework using SHAP and permutation feature importance (PFI) methods to predict the ESG performance of Chinese firms. We analyze comprehensive ESG data of 1608 Chinese listed companies over 13 years (2009–2021), integrating financial and non-financial determinants traditionally examined in isolation. Empirical findings demonstrate that random forest algorithms significantly outperform multivariate linear regression in capturing nonlinear ESG relationships. Key non-financial determinants include patent portfolios, CSR training initiatives, pollutant emissions, and charitable donations, while financial factors such as current assets and gearing ratios prove influential. Sectoral analysis reveals that manufacturing firms are evaluated through pollutant emissions and technical capabilities, whereas non-manufacturing firms are assessed on business taxes and intangible assets. These insights provide essential tools for multinational corporations to anticipate supply chain sustainability conditions. Full article

In a global context characterized by budgetary pressures, aging populations, and accelerated economic transitions, the capacity of countries to mobilize stable and sustainable tax revenues represents a crucial pillar for maintaining macroeconomic stability and social cohesion. This research investigated the determinants of total tax revenues in the developed economies of the G7 group (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States) during the period 2000–2022, employing both static and dynamic panel econometric approaches. The estimated model considered total tax revenues as the dependent variable, while the explanatory variables encompassed the main categories of government revenues: direct taxes (personal and corporate income), indirect taxes (consumption, trade, and other taxes), social contributions, grants, other non-tax revenues, and institutional quality indicators (regulatory quality and control of corruption). The empirical findings revealed that all tax components analyzed exert a positive and significant influence on total tax revenues, with particularly strong effects observed for consumption taxes, social contributions, and personal income taxes. Based on these results, the study provides policy recommendations aimed at diversifying revenue sources, balancing direct and indirect taxation, and broadening the tax base equitably. The study advances the literature on international taxation by offering an integrated and comparative analysis of the revenue structures in advanced economies, while also identifying relevant pathways for sustainable tax reforms in a dynamic global environment. Full article

To achieve climate goals and promote clean energy, China has introduced preferential VAT policies to promote the development of renewable energy power generation industries, but their actual impact on corporate profitability remains underexplored. This study innovatively applies a DID approach, enhanced with PSM and dynamic modeling, to evaluate the causal effects of VAT incentives on firm ROE. Using panel data from 98 listed power generation companies between 2010 and 2024, this study distinguishes treatment effects across the wind, solar, and hydrogen sectors, revealing significant heterogeneity. Unlike prior studies, it further investigates time-lagged impacts and fiscal efficiency indicators to assess policy sustainability. Results show that VAT incentives significantly enhance ROE for wind and solar firms, while the hydrogen sector exhibits weaker responses. These findings not only confirm the effectiveness of targeted tax incentives but also offer new insights for refining fiscal policies to better support sector-specific transitions toward renewable energy. This study provides empirical evidence for the design of China’s fiscal energy policy to maximize the growth of the renewable energy sector. More broadly, this study provides lessons for global green transition policies, illustrating how well-designed fiscal incentives can support sustainable energy development worldwide. Full article

Tax compliance remains a critical issue in corporate taxation research, particularly in understanding the causal link between the administration of corporate tax and tax avoidance. This study investigates the potential simultaneous relationship between the two by analyzing 277 listed firms across four Southeast Asian countries using two-year average data (2022–2023). The administration of corporate tax is measured using eight disclosure-based indicators from the Refinitiv Eikon database, while tax avoidance is proxied by the effective tax rate (ETR). The primary analysis applies multiple regression to assess the effect of tax administration on tax avoidance and logistic regression to evaluate the reverse relationship. To address endogeneity and test for simultaneity, robustness checks using two-stage least squares (2SLS) and instrumental variable techniques are employed. The results confirm a bidirectional relationship: a stronger administration of corporate tax is associated with lower tax avoidance, while tax avoidance behavior also shapes tax administration practices. These findings underscore the importance of strengthening internal tax governance as a foundation for compliance. Given varying levels of tax administration across countries, this study calls for greater international coordination to standardize corporate tax governance practices and reduce avoidance incentives. Full article

This paper examines the relation between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and firm financial performance—a topic that continues to generate debate among academics and practitioners. We focus on firms included in the 100 Best Corporate Citizens (BCC) rankings from 2009 to 2022, a list that highlights companies recognized for CSR transparency and performance. Using panel data regression analyses and matched sample comparison, we examine whether BCC firms outperform their peers. Our findings show that, relative to matched firms not included in the rankings, BCC firms demonstrate significantly stronger future operating performance. Among BCC firms, CSR rankings are positively associated with future operating performance, although this positive relation has diminished in more recent years. Furthermore, we find no significant association between operating performance and most individual CSR component rankings except for employee relations. Finally, our evidence indicates that more socially responsible firms engage in less tax avoidance and pay higher audit fees, suggesting that CSR-oriented firms exhibit stronger ethical considerations across a broad range of corporate activities. This study contributes to the CSR literature by providing updated empirical evidence and practical insights for stakeholders evaluating corporate behavior and outcomes through the BCC rankings. Full article

The global shift to low-carbon energy systems has significantly increased demand for critical raw materials like lithium, cobalt, nickel, rare earth elements, and copper. These materials are essential for renewable technologies and energy storage. However, their extraction and processing produce significant carbon emissions and face challenges from supply chain vulnerabilities and price volatility. This review examines the complex relationship between carbon pricing mechanisms—such as carbon markets and taxes—and raw material markets. It explores the strategic importance of these materials, recent policy developments, and the transmission of carbon pricing impacts through supply chains. The review also analyzes the systemic risks created by carbon pricing, including regulatory uncertainty, market volatility, and geopolitical tensions. We then discuss financial tools and corporate strategies for managing these risks, such as carbon-linked derivatives and supply chain diversification. Finally, this review identifies key challenges and suggests future research to improve the resilience and sustainability of raw material supply chains. Here, resilience is defined as the capacity to adapt to carbon pricing volatility, geopolitical disruptions, and regulatory shocks, while maintaining operations. The paper concludes that coordinated policies and flexible risk management are urgently needed to support a reliable and sustainable energy transition. Full article

This study highlights the pivotal role of women in corporate governance and their potential influence on achieving sustainable goals, particularly in the context of emerging countries. Using the two-step System-Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) with the dynamic short panel data of 351 nonfinancial listed companies in Vietnam from 2010 to 2022, this research examines the dynamics between earnings management and tax avoidance, focusing on the moderating role of women on the board of directors. The results confirm that both accrual-based and real earnings management are positively associated with corporate tax avoidance. However, there is a significant negative relationship between female representation on the board and tax avoidance, as well as a significant moderation of the relationship between earnings management and tax avoidance. This study reinforces that female leadership contributes to reducing earnings management and tax avoidance through improved monitoring and governance of corporate ethical activities, emphasizing the importance of strategically empowering women in leadership roles. The implications of this study are given to minimize harmful financial practices and align corporate strategies with ethical practices. Full article

The enhancements of tax policies and their coordination have emerged as a significant way to promote corporate sustainability, especially in developing economies worldwide. Using panel data from Chinese non-financial A-share listed companies from 2009 to 2022, this study empirically explores the promoting effects of corporate income tax (CIT) incentives and environmental protection tax (EPT) levies on corporate ESG performance. We find that the CIT incentive has a notable positive impact on firms’ ESG behavior, acting on the micro-mechanisms of increasing corporate cash flow and reducing agency costs, and its promoting effect is more salient with regard to the social and governance dimensions. This study also traces the interactive effects between the EPT levy and CIT incentive policies, which boost corporate ESG behavior synergistically. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that these effects are more noticeable in manufacturing firms and non-state-owned firms with severe financing constraints. Environmental tests show that CIT incentive policies have positive effects on green technological innovation, and Chinese enterprises are still experiencing relatively serious negative impacts. The conclusions of this study are conducive to providing theoretical support and policy suggestions for encouraging the sustainable development of companies through the policy combination of environmental regulation and tax incentives. Full article

This study examines the critical role of institutional quality in driving corporate adaptation to climate change within the EU-27 member states from 2006 to 2023. It aims to investigate how governance factors—control of corruption, government effectiveness, rule of law, and regulatory quality—influence business strategies for environmental resilience and sustainability, focusing on environmental investments and industrial production. Employing fixed and random effects regression models on a balanced panel dataset, we analyze two dependent variables: environmental protection investment corporations (EPIC), measuring investments in pollution prevention and environmental degradation reduction, and industrial production (IP), reflecting output in mining, manufacturing, and utilities. A composite institutional quality index, derived through principal component analysis (PCA) from the four governance indicators, captures their collective impact, reducing multicollinearity and enhancing analytical robustness. Control variables, including final energy consumption, environmental tax revenues, expenditure on environmental protection, and a Paris Agreement dummy, are incorporated to test the institutional quality effect. Results demonstrate that higher institutional quality significantly enhances EPIC, particularly in countries with greater environmental tax revenues, indicating that robust governance and fiscal policies incentivize sustainable corporate investments. Conversely, the effect on IP is less consistent, with higher fossil energy consumption and lower environmental tax revenues driving production, suggesting a reliance on high-polluting industries. The Paris Agreement positively influences IP, reflecting stronger climate-focused industrial strategies post-2015. These findings underscore the pivotal interplay between institutional quality and environmental fiscal policies in fostering corporate adaptation to climate change. Over the long term, strong governance is essential for aligning business practices with sustainability goals, reducing environmental degradation, and mitigating climate risks across the EU. This study highlights the need for cohesive policies to support green investments and transition industries toward renewable energy sources, addressing disparities in environmental performance among EU member states. Full article

Temporary book-tax differences (BTDs) serve as critical proxies for understanding corporate earnings management and tax planning. However, the drivers of large negative BTDs (LNBTDs)—where book income falls below taxable income—remain underexplored. This study investigates the determinants and components of LNBTDs, focusing on their relationship with deferred tax assets (DTAs) and liabilities (DTLs). Utilizing hand-collected data from the tax disclosures of S&P 500 firms’ 10-K filings (2007–2023), I analyze 4685 firm-year observations to identify specific accounting items driving LNBTDs. Findings reveal that deferred revenue, goodwill impairments, R&D, CapEx, environmental obligations, pensions, contingency liabilities, leases, and receivables are significant contributors, often generating substantial DTAs due to timing mismatches between book and tax recognition. Notably, high-tech industries, like the pharmaceutical, medical, and computers and software industries, exhibit pronounced LNBTDs, driven by upfront revenue recognition for tax purposes and deferred recognition for financial reporting, capitalization, amortization and depreciation effects, and other deferred tax components. Regression analyses confirm strong associations between these components and LNBTDs, with asymmetry in reversal patterns suggesting that initial differences do not always offset symmetrically over time. While prior research emphasizes large positive BTDs and tax avoidance, this study highlights economic and industry-specific characteristics as key LNBTD drivers, with limited evidence of earnings manipulation via deferred taxes. These insights enhance the value relevance of deferred tax disclosures and offer implications for reporting standards, tax policy, and research into BTD dynamics. Full article

This paper examines the effect of board characteristics on tax avoidance and the moderating role of industry regulation on this effect. Using a comprehensive panel of 84,153 firm-year observations from 39 countries during the period of 2000–2023, we illustrate that larger boards, higher female representation, significant foreign ownership, and the presence of independent directors are generally associated with higher effective tax rates, suggesting lower levels of tax avoidance. This study further demonstrates that the effects of board gender diversity and board independence are more pronounced in regulated industries, where stringent governance and ethical standards prevail, emphasizing the importance of regulatory oversight in mitigating aggressive tax planning. These findings are crucial for policymakers, regulators, and corporate governance practitioners aiming to align corporate practices with ethical standards and reduce the risks associated with tax avoidance. Full article