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 rich Chinese micro-level data, we then show that input tariff liberalization generates higher income for Chinese manufacturing workers but widens gender income gap. The widened gender income gap is not due to longer working hours by men but an increase in gender wage inequality. We also find that input tariff reductions worsen manufacturing workers’ health, and this adverse effect is more pronounced for women. The worsening of gender disparities, however, applies mainly to the unskilled.

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.