How does financial openness affect pollution emission of industrial enterprises?—Empirical evidence from the entry of foreign banks in China

Abstract Currently, the effects of financial openness (FO) on the environment have not been assessed at the micro level of enterprises. This article uses the difference‐in‐differences method to explore the pollution abatement effect of FO. The results show that FO can effectively promote pollution abatement with a significant environmental performance enhancement effect. In addition, the pollution abatement effect of FO is stronger in large, heavy industrial, and state‐owned enterprises. Besides, FO significantly alleviates financing constraints and promotes the pollution abatement by driving R&D investment and strengthening the intensity of end‐of‐pipe treatment. Policy recommendations are given to steadily expand the FO pattern, improve the financial disclosure system of small and medium‐sized enterprises, and optimize subsidies for increased R&D investment to stimulate pollution abatement. A reference for other emerging economies, especially transitioning economies, is provided to fully utilize the financial system under construction or improvement to realize the value of pollution control.