Can we rest easy under the registration-based IPO reform? Evidence from the Chinese growth enterprise market

The registration-based initial public offering (IPO) system is a pivotal initiative in China’s comprehensive capital market reform, but little is known about its effectiveness. Our study aims to explore the impact of the registration-based IPO reform on enterprises’ environmental, social, and governance (ESG) greenwashing behaviors. Drawing on data from 2,490 enterprises listed on the Chinese growth enterprise market and the main board of the Shenzhen Stock Exchange during 2012-2022, we find that the registration-based IPO reform significantly aggravates ESG greenwashing with an effect of 0.1696. Building upon this evidence, we explore the underlying mechanism. Peer competition and retail investor sentiment play a partial mediating role and become two channels through which the registration-based IPO reform may aggravate enterprises’ ESG greenwashing. Analysts’ attention can alleviate the impact of registration-based IPO reform on enterprises’ ESG greenwashing while management myopia intensifies it, and they both play a moderating role. Moreover, the aggravating effect of the registration-based IPO reform on ESG greenwashing is more pronounced in enterprises belonging to heavily polluting industries, in the Western region, and with low information transparency. Thus, our findings offer new insights into enterprises’ ESG greenwashing behaviors in the context of the registration-based IPO reform.