Firm size and pro-environmental behavior in Cameroon
-
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ee.14(1).2023.05
-
Article InfoVolume 14 2023, Issue #1, pp. 47-60
- Cited by
- 295 Views
-
75 Downloads
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Previous studies indicate a lack of analysis of pro-environmental behavior adoption in enterprises of various sizes. Very small enterprises, especially in the informal sector, have always been overlooked in the literature, although they are in the majority in most countries. This paper aims to examine the effects of firm size on pro-environmental behavior adoption in Cameroon. The analysis focuses on a sample of 141,926 firms drawn from the Second General Census of Enterprises (RGE-2) in Cameroon (NIS, 2018). The study adopted a statistical and econometrical approach based on the logit model. The results showed that the adoption of pro-environmental behavior increases with firm size. The probability of having a health, safety, and environment system increases by 16.70 points in large enterprises compared to 8.40 points in small enterprises. The probability of having a wastewater management system increases by 5.30 points in large enterprises compared to 2.30 points in small enterprises. The probability of having an air pollution management system increases by 2.20 points in large enterprises compared to 1.50 points in small enterprises. However, company size does not significantly influence the adoption of a solid waste management system. It is recommended to (i) raise awareness among large companies of the challenges of environmental protection and to strengthen controls on compliance with environmental standards, and (ii) to implement actions aimed at the migration of companies from the informal to the formal sector.
- Keywords
-
JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)D21, Q50, Q52, Q53
-
References38
-
Tables4
-
Figures0
-
- Table 1. Descriptive statistics
- Table 2. Bivariate statistics (in %)
- Table 3. Logit model results
- Table 4. Logit model (sensibility analysis)
-
- Aloise, P. G., & Macke, J. (2017). Eco-innovations in developing countries: The case of Manaus Free Trade Zone (Brazil). Journal of Cleaner Production, 168, 30-38.
- Aragon-Correa, J. A., & Matias-Reche, F. (2005). Small firms and natural environment: A resource-based view of the importance, antecedents, implications and future challenges of the relationship. In S. Sharma & J. A. Aragon-Correa (Eds.), Corporate environmental strategy and competitive advantage (pp. 96-114). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
- Ben Larbi, S., Lacroux, A., & Luu, P. (2013). Analyse typologique des déterminants de l’engagement des sociétés non cotées en matière de développement durable: Premiers résultats d’une enquête exploratoire. Recherches en Sciences de Gestion, 96(3), 153-177. (In French).
- Berger-Douce, S. (2008). Rentabilité et pratiques de RSE en milieu PME premiers résultats d’une étude française. Revue Management et Avenir, 1(15), 9-29. (In French).
- Blain, D., & Fries, G. (2009). Responsabilité environnementale et sociétale des entreprises internationales de traitement et de valorisation des déchets. Annales des Mines – Responsabilité et Environnement, 2(54), 45-51. (In French).
- Bowen, F. E. (2002). Does size matter? Organizational slack and visibility as alternative explanations for environmental responsiveness. Business & Society, 41(1), 118-124.
- Cai, W., & Zhou, X. (2014). On the drivers of eco-innovation: Empirical evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 79, 239-248.
- Chen, H., Hao, Y., Li, J., & Song, X. (2018b). The impact of environmental regulation, shadow economy, and corruption on environmental quality: Theory and empirical evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 195, 200-214.
- Chen, J., Cheng, J., & Dai, S. (2017). Regional eco-innovation in China: An analysis of eco-innovation levels and influencing factors. Journal of Cleaner Production, 153, 1-14.
- Chen, X., Yi, N., Zhang, L., & Li, D. (2018a). Does institutional pressure foster corporate green innovation? Evidence from China’s top 100 companies. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188, 304-311.
- Da Silva Rabêlo, O., & de Azevedo Melo, A. S. S. (2019). Drivers of multidimensional eco-innovation: Empirical evidence from the Brazilian industry. Environmental Technology, 40(19), 2556-2566.
- Dupuis, J. C., Haned, N., & Le Bas, C. (2006). La responsabilité sociale des entreprises (RSE) en Rhône-Alpes. Premiers résultats d’une enquête auprès des PME régionales. Bulletin Œconomia Humana, 4(11), 9-12. (In French).
- Fernández, S., Torrecillas, C., & Labra, R. E. (2021). Drivers of eco-innovation in developing countries: The case of Chilean firms. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 170, 120902.
- Frondel, M., Horbach, J., & Rennings, K. (2007). End-of-pipe or cleaner production? An empirical comparison of environmental innovation decisions across OECD countries. Business Strategy and the Environment, 16(8), 571-584.
- Galliano, D., & Nadel, S. (2013). Determinants of eco-innovation adoption according to the firm’s strategic profile: The case of French industrial firms. Revue D’économie Industrielle, 142(2), 77-110.
- Gillet, M. (2002). Économie sociale et gestion des déchets ménagers. Reflets et Perspectives de la vie Économique, 41(1), 75-88. (In French).
- Han, M. S., & Chen, W. (2021). Determinants of eco-innovation adoption of small and medium enterprises: An empirical analysis in Myanmar. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173, 121146.
- Hemmelskamp, J. (2000). Environmental taxes and standards: An empirical analysis of the impact on innovation. In J. Hemmelskamp, K. Rennings, & F. Leone (Eds.), Innovation oriented environmental regulation (pp. 303-329). Heidelberg/New York: Physica-Verlag.
- Henry-Wittmann, M.-V. (1996). Le recyclage des déchets: Approche économique d’une activité nouvelle. Revue Française D’économie, 11(3), 165-191. (In French).
- Hillary, R. (2000). Small and medium-sized enterprises and the environment. Sheffield: Business Imperatives, Greenleaf Publishing.
- Horbach, J. (2016). Empirical determinants of eco-innovation in European countries using the community innovation survey. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 19, 1-14.
- Jové-Llopis, E., & Segarra-Blasco, A. (2018). Eco-innovation strategies: A panel data analysis of Spanish manufacturing firms. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(8), 1209-1220.
- Li, D., Tang, F., & Jiang, J. (2019). Does environmental management system foster corporate green innovation? The moderating effect of environmental regulation. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 31(10), 1242-1256.
- Liang, D., & Liu, T. (2017). Does environmental management capability of Chinese industrial firms improve the contribution of corporate environmental performance to economic performance? Evidence from 2010 to 2015. Journal of Cleaner Production, 142(4), 2985-2998.
- Li-Ying, J., Mothe, C., & Nguyen, T. T. U. (2018). Linking forms of inbound open innovation to a driver-based typology of environmental innovation: Evidence from French manufacturing firms. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 135, 51-63.
- Mady, K., Abdul Halim, M. A. S., & Omar, K. (2022). Drivers of multiple eco-innovation and the impact on sustainable competitive advantage: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs in Egypt. International Journal of Innovation Science, 14(1), 40-61.
- Marzucchi, A., & Montresor, S. (2017). Forms of knowledge and eco-innovation modes: Evidence from Spanish manufacturing firms. Ecological Economics, 131, 208-221.
- McFadden, D. (1974). The measurement of urban travel demand. Journal of Public Economics, 3(4), 303-328.
- Ministry of Environment, Protection of Nature and Sustainable Development (MINEPDED). (2016). Order No. 00002/MINEPDED of 9 February 2016 to lay down the model format for the terms of reference and content of an environmental impact notice. In LEGAL-TEXTS-COMPILATION (pp. 561-568).
- Mothe, C., Nguyen-Thi, U. T., & Triguero, Á. (2018). Innovative products and services with environmental benefits: Design of search strategies for external knowledge and absorptive capacity. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 61(11), 1934-1954.
- National Institute of Statistics (NIS). (2018). Second General Census of Enterprises in 2016 (RGE-2) in Cameroon. Database. (In French).
- Papagiannakis, G., & Lioukas, S. (2012). Values, attitudes and perceptions of managers as predictors of corporate environmental responsiveness. Journal of Environmental Management, 100, 41-51.
- Prime Minister. (2013). Decree No. 2013/0172/PM7 of 14 February 2013 laying down the modalities for carrying out the environ-7 PM is Prime Minister. mental and social audit (Prime Minister Working Document). (In French).
- Rave, T., Goetzke, F., & Larch, M. (2011). The Determinants of Environmental Innovations and Patenting: Germany Reconsidered (IFO Working Paper No. 97). IFO Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich.
- Rehfeld, K.-M., Rennings, K., & Ziegler, A. (2007). Integrated product policy and environmental product innovations: An empirical analysis. Ecological Economics, 61(1), 91-100.
- Rhaiem, K., & Doloreux, D. (2022). A strategic perspective of eco-innovation drivers: Evidence from Canadian SMEs. Journal of Cleaner Production, 368, 133211.
- Sanni, M. (2018). Drivers of eco-innovation in the manufacturing sector of Nigeria. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 131, 303-314.
- Tran-Dieu, L., & Vernier, M.-F. (2017). Waste prevention: An empirical analysis of the determinants of firms’ behavior. Revue D’économie Industrielle, 159(3), 79-111.