Corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and green innovation: Evidence from China

Green innovation is an important way for firms to achieve both economic benefits and environmental protection in the long term. We focus on the influence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firms’ green innovation. Using the CSR rating and green patent data in the Chinese market from 2008 to 2019, we find that CSR performance has a significant positive impact on firms’ green patent application and granted amount. Furthermore, this effect is stronger in firms with higher transparency and firms with larger institutional ownership.