The effect of a list: How firms on key pollution supervisory list disclose environmental information?

This paper studied how firms on China's key pollution supervisory list (KPSL) disclose environmental information in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports according to legitimacy theory. Using a sample of A-shares listed Chinese firms from 2012 to 2019, it is shown that firms on KPSL utilize longer text and more tables and figures in their environmental information disclosure (EID), but adopt less positive textual tone to describe environmental performance. Besides, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-state-owned enterprises (NSOEs) have different presentation styles. These styles for EID do not contribute to firm performance, especially adopting less positive textual tone negatively influences firm reputation.

Automated summary

This paper examines how firms on China's key pollution supervisory list disclose environmental information in CSR reports. The study finds that these firms use certain strategies in presenting their environmental information, but these strategies do not contribute to firm performance and may even negatively impact firm reputation.