Corporate Social Responsibility and Carbon Emission Intensity: Is There a Marketization Threshold Effect?

Using data of 30 provinces in mainland China for the period from 2010 to 2016, this study applies a threshold model to empirically test the effect of corporate social responsibility on regional carbon emission under different marketization levels. The results show that there is a significant negative correlation between CSR and carbon emission intensity, and the level of marketization has a clear threshold effect. However, the threshold effect differs depending on certain dimensions that can be influenced by policymakers. Strengthening government intervention and improving marketization levels, the impact of corporate social responsibility on carbon emission intensity can be significantly enhanced.