Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Are born global firms environmentally more responsible? Evidence from the East Asia and Pacific region

  • Published:
Asia Pacific Journal of Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examines the environmental performance (EP) of born-global firms (BGFs) in the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region. Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), we investigate whether BGFs exhibit greater environmental responsibility compared to other firms. By analyzing an unbalanced panel dataset of firms from seven EAP countries, we find that BGFs do indeed exhibit higher levels of environmental responsibility than non-BGFs. Our results suggest that BGFs are more likely to adopt policies that contribute to the reduction of natural resource use and emissions. On the other hand, our results suggest that BGFs may be less concerned about product innovation than non-BGFs. In addition, our results remain robust to alternative regression models, BGF proxies, and sample selection bias. The implications of our study are relevant for policymakers and environmental regulators, providing valuable insights into the environmental performance of BGFs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Environmental performance (EP) is an output that determines the degree to which firms are involved in protecting the natural environment (Paille & Boiral, 2013) and can be assessed with several indicators, such as low environmental releases, waste minimization, pollution prevention, and recycling activity (Lober, 1996).

  2. Although there is no consensus among researchers on what constitutes a born-global firm (Efrat & Shoham, 2012), several terms have been used, for example, born-global firms (Rennie, 1993) are also called international new ventures-IVs (McDougall et al., 1994), global start-ups (Jolly et al., 1992), or early internationalizing firms, instant internationals (Preece et al., 1998), or born internationals (Gabrielsson & Pelkonen, 2008).

  3. The missing values for the main variables were replaced with the median for those firms having at least two observations over the period under study.

  4. For more details on the definition of born-global firms (BGFs), see Dzikowski (2018).

  5. See Appendix Table A1 for the detailed definitions and measurement of variables.

References

  • Aguilera-Caracuel, J., Aragón-Correa, J. A., Hurtado-Torres, N. E., & Rugman, A. M. (2012). The effects of institutional distance and headquarters’ financial performance on the generation of environmental standards in multinational companies. Journal of Business Ethics, 105(4), 461–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlstrom, D., & Ding, Z. (2014). Entrepreneurship in China: An overview. International Small Business Journal, 32(6), 610–618.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahsan, T., Al-Gamrh, B., & Mirza, S. S. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and firm value: The role of sensitive industries and CEOs power in China. Applied Economics, 54(16), 1844–1863.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Ghwayeen, W. S., & Abdallah, A. B. (2018). Green supply chain management and export performance: The mediating role of environmental performance. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 29(7), 1233–1252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Asundi, R. K. (2001). Globalization and its effects on strategies for small and medium-sized business. In C. P. Rao (Ed.), Globalization and its managerial implications (pp. 205–333). Quarum Books.

  • Awaysheh, A., Heron, R. A., Perry, T., & Wilson, J. I. (2020). On the relation between corporate social responsibility and financial performance. Strategic Management Journal, 41, 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bai, C., Quayson, M., & Sarkis, J. (2021). COVID-19 pandemic digitization lessons for sustainable development of micro-and small-enterprises. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 27, 1989–2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltagi, B. (2008). Econometric analysis of panel data. John Wiley & Sons.

  • Banerjee, S. B., Iyer, E. S., & Kashyap, R. K. (2003). Corporate environmentalism: Antecedents and influence of industry type. Journal of Marketing, 67(2), 106–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bansal, P. (2005). Evolving sustainably: A longitudinal study of corporate sustainable development. Strategic Management Journal, 26(3), 197–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17, 99–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barney, J. B., Ketchen, D. J. Jr., & Wright, M. (2011). The future of resource-based theory: Revitalization or decline? Journal of Management, 37(5), 1299–1315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Batrakova, S., & Davies, R. B. (2012). Is there an environmental benefit to being an exporter? Evidence from firm-level data. Review of World Economics, 148(3), 449–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-David, I., Jang, Y., Kleimeier, S., & Viehs, M. (2020). Exporting pollution: Where do multinational firms emit CO. 2? Economic Policy, 36(107), 377–437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackman, A., & Wu, X. (1999). Foreign direct investment in China’s power sector: Trends, benefits and barriers. Energy Policy, 27(12), 695–711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buysse, K., & Verbeke, A. (2003). Proactive environmental strategies: A stakeholder management perspective. Strategic Management Journal, 24(5), 453–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campana, F., Bianchi, M., Branchini, L., De Pascale, A., Peretto, A., Baresi, M., Fermi, A., Rossetti, N., & Vescovo, R. (2013). ORC waste heat recovery in european energy intensive industries: Energy and GHG savings. Energy Conversion and Management, 76(12), 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cavusgil, S. T. (1980). On the internationalization process of firms. European Research, 8(6), 273–281.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavusgil, S. T., & Knight, G. (2015). The born global firm: An entrepreneurial and capabilities perspective on early and rapid internationalization. Journal of International Business Studies, 46(1), 3–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, T. B., & Chai, L. T. (2010). Attitude towards the environment and green products: Consumers’ perspective. Management Science and Engineering, 4(2), 27–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y. S., Lai, S. B., & Wen, C. T. (2006). The influence of green innovation performance on corporate advantage in Taiwan. Journal of Business Ethics, 67(4), 331–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P. H., Ong, C. F., & Hsu, S. C. (2016). The linkages between internationalization and environmental strategies of multinational construction firms. Journal of Cleaner Production, 116, 207–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho, C. H., Roberts, R. W., & Patten, D. M. (2010). The language of US corporate environmental disclosure. Accounting Organizations and Society, 35(4), 431–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, C. M., & Overdorf, M. (2000). Meeting the challenge of disruptive change. Harvard Business Review, 78(2), 66–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christmann, P. (2004). Multinational companies and the natural environment: Determinants of global environmental policy. Academy of Management Journal, 47(5), 747–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann, P., & Taylor, G. (2001). Globalization and the environment: Determinants of firm self-regulation in China. Journal of International Business Studies, 32(3), 439–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christmann, P., & Taylor, G. (2006). Firm self-regulation through international certifiable standards: Determinants of symbolic versus substantive implementation. Journal of International Business Studies, 37, 863–878.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, M. A., & Elliott, R. J. (2005). FDI and the capital intensity of dirty sectors: A missing piece of the pollution haven puzzle. Review of Development Economics, 9(4), 530–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Colovic, A., & Lamotte, O. (2015). Technological environment and technology entrepreneurship: A cross-country analysis. Creativity and Innovation Management, 24(4), 617–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cong, Y., & Freedman, M. (2011). Corporate governance and environmental performance and disclosures. Advances in Accounting, 27(2), 223–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covington, H., Thornton, J., & Hepburn, C. (2016). Global warming: Shareholders must vote for climate-change mitigation. Nature, 530(7589), 156–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dam, L., & Scholtens, B. (2008). Environmental regulation and MNEs location: Does CSR matter? Ecological Economics, 67(1), 55–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, S., Laplante, B., Wang, H., & Wheeler, D. (2002). Confronting the environmental Kuznets curve. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 16(1), 147–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Villiers, C., Dumay, J., & Farneti, F. (2018, May). The EU directive on non-financial and diversity information: A new toothless tiger is born? In 41st annual congress of the European Accounting Association (Vol. 30).

  • Dechezleprêtre, A., Gennaioli, C., Martin, R., Muûls, M., & Stoerk, T. (2022). Searching for carbon leaks in multinational companies. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 112, 102601.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas, M. A., & Montes-Sancho, M. J. (2011). An institutional perspective on the diffusion of international management system standards: The case of the environmental management standard ISO 14001. Business Ethics Quarterly, 21(1), 103–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dib, L. A., Rocha, A., & Silva, J. F. (2010). The internationalization process of brazilian software firms and the born global phenomenon: Examining firm, network, and entrepreneur variables. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 8(3), 233–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowell, G., Hart, S., & Yeung, B. (1998). Corporate global environmental standards: Altruism or value-added. Academy of Management Annual Meeting. Best Paper Award.

  • Dua, A., & Esty, D. C. (1997). Sustaining the Asia Pacific miracle: Environmental protection and economic integration. Peterson Institute Press: All Books.

  • Dzikowski, P. (2018). A bibliometric analysis of born global firms. Journal of Business Research, 85, 281–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Efrat, K., & Shoham, A. (2012). Born global firms: The differences between their short-and long-term performance drivers. Journal of World Business, 47(4), 675–685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El Ghoul, S., Guedhami, O., Kwok, C. C., & Mishra, D. R. (2011). Does corporate social responsibility affect the cost of capital? Journal of Banking & Finance, 35(9), 2388–2406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eskeland, G. S., & Harrison, A. E. (2003). Moving to greener pastures? Multinationals and the pollution haven hypothesis. Journal of Development Economics, 70(1), 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabrielsson, M., & Pelkonen, T. (2008). Born internationals: Market expansion and business operation mode strategies in the digital media field. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 6, 49–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gassmann, O., & Keupp, M. M. (2007). The internationalisation of research and development in swiss and german born globals: Survey and case study evidence. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 4(3), 214–233.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Perez, M. A., Manotas, E. C., & Ciravegna, L. (2016). International SMEs from emerging markets—insights from the colombian textile and apparel industry. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 14(1), 9–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goud, N. N. (2022). Corporate governance: Does it matter management of carbon emission performance? An empirical analyses of indian companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 379, 134485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guillen, M. F. (2000). Business groups in emerging economies: A resource-based view. Academy of Management Journal, 43(3), 362–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gull, A. A., Saeed, A., Suleman, M. T., & Mushtaq, R. (2022). Revisiting the association between environmental performance and financial performance: Does the level of environmental orientation matter? Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(5), 1647–1662.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gull, A. A., Ahsan, T., Qureshi, M. A., & Mushtaq, R. (2023). Striving to safeguard shareholders or maintain sustainability in periods of high uncertainty: A multi-country evidence. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 188, 122183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S. L. (1995). A natural-resource-based view of the firm. Academy of Management Review, 20(4), 986–1014.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S. L., & Ahuja, G. (1996). Does it pay to be green? An empirical examination of the relationship between emission reduction and firm performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 5(1), 30–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, S. L., & Dowell, G. (2011). Invited editorial: A natural-resource-based view of the firm: Fifteen years after. Journal of Management, 37(5), 1464–1479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hashai, N., & Almor, T. (2004). Gradually internationalizing ‘born global’ firms. An Oxymoron? International Business Review, 13(4), 465–483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hettige, H., Huq, M., Pargal, S., & Wheeler, D. (1996). Determinants of pollution abatement in developing countries: Evidence from South and Southeast Asia. World Development, 24(12), 1891–1904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hobfoll, S. E. (2001). The influence of culture, community, and the nested-self in the stress process: Advancing conservation of resources theory. Applied Psychology, 50(3), 337–421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horváthová, E. (2010). Does environmental performance affect financial performance? A meta-analysis. Ecological Economics, 70(1), 52–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, J. (1975). Wiedersheim-Paul. F. The internationalization of the firm-Four.

  • Johanson, J., & Vahlne, J. E. (1977). The internationalization process of the firm—A model of knowledge development and increasing foreign market commitments. Journal of International Business Studies, 8(1), 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johanson, J., & Vahlne, J. E. (1990). The mechanism of internationalisation. International Marketing Review, 7(4).

  • Johanson, J., & Vahlne, J. E. (2009). The Uppsala internationalisation process model revisited: From liability of foreignness to liability of outsidership. Journal of International Business Studies, 40(9), 1411–1431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolly, V. K., Alahuhta, M., & Jeannet, J. P. (1992). Challenging the incumbents: How high technology start-ups compete globally. Strategic Change, 1(2), 71–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M., & Dimitratos, P. (Eds.). (2004). Emerging paradigms in international entrepreneurship. Edward Elgar Publishing.

  • Kang, J. H., & Jin, B. (2007). Determinants of born global firm growth in the apparel industry: A korean case. Journal of the Textile Institute, 98(2), 137–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassinis, G., & Vafeas, N. (2002). Corporate boards and outside stakeholders as determinants of environmental litigation. Strategic Management Journal, 23(5), 399–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassinis, G., & Vafeas, N. (2006). Stakeholder pressures and environmental performance. Academy of Management Journal, 49(1), 145–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemp, D., & Owen, J. R. (2022). Corporate social irresponsibility, hostile organisations and global resource extraction. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(5), 1816–1824.

  • Kennelly, J. J., & Lewis, E. E. (2002). Degree of internationalization and corporate environmental performance: Is there a link? International Journal of Management, 19(3), 478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kennelly, J. J., & Lewis, E. E. (2003). Degree of internationalization and environmental performance: Evidence from US multinationals. Multinationals, Environment and Global Competition (pp. 23–41). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • Keupp, M. M., & Gassmann, O. (2009). The past and the future of international entrepreneurship: A review and suggestions for developing the field. Journal of Management, 35(3), 600–633.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, R. D., & McLaughlin, C. P. (1996). The impact of environmental management on firm performance. Management Science, 42(8), 1199–1214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight, G. A., & Cavusgil, S. T. (2004). Innovation, organizational capabilities, and the born-global firm. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(2), 124–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolk, A., & van Tulder, R. (2003). Internationalization and environmental reporting: The green face of the world’s leading multinationals. Multinationals, environment and global competition (pp. 95–117). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • Kuivalainen, O., Saarenketo, S., & Puumalainen, K. (2012). Start-up patterns of internationalization: A framework and its application in the context of knowledge intensive SMEs. European Management Journal, 30(4), 372–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar, S., Giridhar, V., & Sadarangani, P. (2019). A cross-national study of environmental performance and culture: Implications of the findings and strategies. Global Business Review, 20(4), 1051–1068.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laufs, K., & Schwens, C. (2014). Foreign market entry mode choice of small and medium-sized enterprises: A systematic review and future research agenda. International Business Review, 23(6), 1109–1126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, K. H., & Min, B. (2015). Green R&D for eco-innovation and its impact on carbon emissions and firm performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 108, 534–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonidou, L. C., & Katsikeas, C. S. (1996). The export development process: An integrative review of empirical models. Journal of International Business Studies, 27(3), 517–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonidou, L. C., Fotiadis, T. A., Christodoulides, P., Spyropoulou, S., & Katsikeas, C. S. (2015). Environmentally friendly export business strategy: Its determinants and effects on competitive advantage and performance. International Business Review, 24(5), 798–811.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, W., Zhao, Z., Wen, Z., & Cheng, S. (2022). Environmental regulation and OFDI: Evidence from chinese listed firms. Economic Analysis and Policy, 75, 191–208.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lober, D. J. (1996). Evaluating the environmental performance of corporations. Journal of Managerial Issues, 8(2), 184–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, X., Chen, Y., Du, J., Oh, K., & Han, I. (2017). Environmental innovation and its impact on economic and environmental performance: Evidence from korean-owned firms in China. Energy Policy, 107, 131–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López, L. A., Cadarso, M., Zafrilla, J., & Arce, G. (2019). The carbon footprint of the US multinationals’ foreign affiliates. Nature Communications, 10(1), 1–11.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malen, J. (2021). Moving the goalposts: Aspiration re-operationalization in response to failure to achieve environmental performance targets. Academy of Management Discoveries, 8(3), 357–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Tapia, I., Aragón-Correa, J. A., & Rueda-Manzanares, A. (2010). Environmental strategy and exports in medium, small and micro-enterprises. Journal of World Business, 45(3), 266–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mathews, J. A. (2006). Dragon multinationals: New players in 21 st century globalization. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 23, 5–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, P. P., Shane, S., & Oviatt, B. M. (1994). Explaining the formation of international new ventures: The limits of theories from international business research. Journal of Business Venturing, 9(6), 469–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, K. E. (2004). Perspectives on multinational enterprises in emerging economies. Journal of International Business Studies, 35(4), 259–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moen, Ø., & Servais, P. (2002). Born global or gradual global? Examining the export behavior of small and medium-sized enterprises. Journal of International Marketing, 10(3), 49–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molina-Azorín, J. F., Claver-Cortés, E., López‐Gamero, M. D., & Tarí, J. J. (2009). Green management and financial performance: A literature review. Management Decision, 47(7), 1080–1100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muthuri, J. N., Moon, J., & Idemudia, U. (2012). Corporate innovation and sustainable community development in developing countries. Business & Society, 51(3), 355–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oliva, F. L., Teberga, P. M. F., Testi, L. I. O., Kotabe, M., Giudice, D., Kelle, M., P., & Cunha, M. P. (2022). Risks and critical success factors in the internationalization of born global startups of industry 4.0: A social, environmental, economic, and institutional analysis. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 175, 121346.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oviatt, B. M., McDougall, P. P. Toward a theory of international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 25(1), 45–64Paillé, P., & Halilem, N. (1994). (2019). Systematic review on environmental innovativeness: A knowledge-based resource view. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 1088–1099.

  • Oviatt, B. M., & McDougall, P. P. (2005). Toward a theory of international new ventures. Journal of International Business Studies, 36, 29–41.

  • Paillé, P., & Boiral, O. (2013). Pro-environmental behavior at work: Construct validity and determinants. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 36, 118–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, J., & Gupta, P. (2014). Process and intensity of internationalization of IT firms–evidence from India. International Business Review, 23(3), 594–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkins, R., & Neumayer, E. (2008). Fostering environment efficiency through transnational linkages? Trajectories of CO2 and SO2, 1980–2000. Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space, 40(12), 2970–2989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pham, N. T., Thanh, T. V., Tučková, Z., & Thuy, V. T. N. (2020). The role of green human resource management in driving hotel’s environmental performance: Interaction and mediation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 88, 102392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prashantham, S. (2013). Born global in Bangalore: Emergent pathways for international new ventures via multinational enterprise networks. Aib Insights, 13(4), 13–16.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Preece, S. B., Miles, G.,and, & Baetz, M. C. (1998). Explaining the international intensity and global diversity of early-stage technology-based firms. Journal of Business Venturing, 14, 259–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie, M. W. (1993). Born global. The McKinsey Quarterly, 4, 45–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rialp, A., & Rialp, J. (2007). Faster and more successful exporters: An exploratory study of born global firms from the resource-based view. Journal of Euromarketing, 16(1–2), 71–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russo, M. V., & Fouts, P. A. (1997). A resource-based perspective on corporate environmental performance and profitability. Academy of Management Journal, 40(3), 534–559.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, P., Evers, N., Smith, A., & Andersson, S. (2019). Local horizontal network membership for accelerated global market reach. International Marketing Review, 35(6), 936–957.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sapienza, H. J., Autio, E., George, G., & Zahra, S. A. (2006). A capabilities perspective on the effects of early internationalization on firm survival and growth. Academy of Management Review, 31(4), 914–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarasvathy, S. D. (2001). Causation and effectuation: Toward a theoretical shift from economic inevitability to entrepreneurial contingency. Academy of Management Review, 26(2), 243–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlegelmilch, B. B., Bohlen, G. M., & Diamantopoulos, A. (1996). The link between green purchasing decisions and measures of environmental consciousness. European Journal of Marketing, 30(5), 35–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seaborn, P., Olsen, T. D., & Howell, J. (2020). Is insider control good for environmental performance? Evidence from dual-class firms. Business & Society, 59(4), 716–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava, P. (1995). Environmental technologies and competitive advantage. Strategic Management Journal, 16, 183–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun, C., Ding, D., Fang, X., Zhang, H., & Li, J. (2019). How do fossil energy prices affect the stock prices of new energy companies? Evidence from Divisia energy price index in China’s market. Energy, 169, 637–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, R. (1966). International investment and international trade in the product cycle. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 80, 190–207.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vernon, R. (1998). In the hurricane’s eye: The troubled prospects of multinational enterprises. Harvard University Press.

  • Walls, J. L., Berrone, P., & Phan, P. H. (2012). Corporate governance and environmental performance: Is there really a link? Strategic Management Journal, 33(8), 885–913.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter, I. (1982). Environmentally induced industrial relocation to developing countries. Environment and Trade, 2, 235–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter, S. D., & Elwood, J. M. (1975). A test for seasonality of events with a variable population at risk. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 29(1), 18–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weerawardena, J., Mort, G. S., Liesch, P. W., & Knight, G. (2007). Conceptualizing accelerated internationalization in the born global firm: A dynamic capabilities perspective. Journal of World Business, 42(3), 294–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, R., & Lin, B. (2022). Environmental regulation and its influence on energy-environmental performance: Evidence on the porter hypothesis from China’s iron and steel industry. Resources Conservation and Recycling, 176, 105954.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan, S., Almandoz, J., & Ferraro, F. (2021). The impact of logic (in)compatibility: Green investing, state policy, and corporate environmental performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 66(4), 903–944.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, B., & Chen, J. (2014). Are multinational enterprises in China cleaner or dirtier than their local counterparts? Globalization and the environment of China (pp. 97–107). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  • York, J. G., Vedula, S., & Lenox, M. J. (2018). It’s not easy building green: The impact of public policy, private actors, and regional logics on voluntary standards adoption. Academy of Management Journal, 61, 1492–1523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zahra, S. A., & Wright, M. (2011). Entrepreneurship’s next act. Academy of Management Perspectives, 25(4), 67–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zahra, S. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hitt, M. A. (2000). International expansion by new venture firms: International diversity, mode of market entry, technological learning, and performance. Academy of Management Journal, 43(5), 925–950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarsky, L. (1999). Havens, halos and spaghetti: Untangling the evidence about foreign direct investment and the environment. Foreign Direct Investment and the Environment, 13(8), 47–74.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. OCRE Research Lab, EDC Paris Business School, Paris, France

    Rizwan Mushtaq

  2. KEDGE Business School, Talence, France

    Ghulam Murtaza & Dorra Yahiaoui

  3. NEOMA Business School, Mont-Saint-Aignan, France

    Pereira Vijay

  4. ESSCA School of Management, Angers, France

    Qurat-ul-Ain Talpur

Authors
  1. Rizwan Mushtaq
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ghulam Murtaza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dorra Yahiaoui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Pereira Vijay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qurat-ul-Ain Talpur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Rizwan Mushtaq or Ghulam Murtaza.

Ethics declarations

Competing interest

None.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Appendix

Appendix

Table A1 Variables and measurements
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mushtaq, R., Murtaza, G., Yahiaoui, D. et al. Are born global firms environmentally more responsible? Evidence from the East Asia and Pacific region. Asia Pac J Manag (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-023-09915-3

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10490-023-09915-3

Keywords

JEL classification

Search

Navigation