Wenqing WU (吴文青)

Using data from Chinese customs and publicly listed firms, we present evidence that exporting to countries with higher levels of gender equality significantly enhances corporate board gender diversity. Importantly, this improvement goes beyond mere tokenism, as female representation increases not only among independent directors but also within the corporate strategy committee. We also account for the potential confounding influence of inward or outward FDI activities. Furthermore, we identify two key mechanisms—cultural spillover and conformance channels—that drive this enhanced board gender diversity.

This study examines the impact of input tariff liberalization on gender disparities using China’s WTO accession as a natural experiment. We first offer a theoretical framework to illustrate the mechanisms. Using micro-level data from China, we show that input tariff liberalization increases incomes for manufacturing workers but widens the gender income gap. This widening is not due to longer working hours by men but by rising gender wage inequality. We also find that input tariff reductions worsen manufacturing workers’ health, and this adverse effect is more pronounced for women. These worsening gender disparities, however, are concentrated primarily among unskilled workers.

Under the background of serious environmental problems and environmental protection becoming an important issue, China has introduced the "most stringent environmental protection law" and implemented the Environmental Inspections to impose strict environmental regulations on enterprises. Compliance with environmental regulations will inevitably bring greater production costs to enterprises. Is it possible for enterprises to avoid regulatory costs through rent-seeking? What factors will affect rent-seeking behavior? The study will use China's New Environmental Protection Law and the Environmental Inspections as a clue to explore the impact of environmental regulations on corporates' rent-seeking behavior and the role that media plays.