A comparative study on environmental responsibility of German and Japanese automobile corporations in China

Abstract

This study examines the environmental behavior of multinational companies from different origins operating in the same host country. By focusing on German and Japanese automotive companies in China, the research employs qualitative analysis of corporate reports to compare their environmental responsibility. The findings align with institutional and stakeholder theories, suggesting that companies from the same institutional environment converge in their environmental behavior. The study contributes to sustainable business management by providing managers with a deeper understanding of environmental behavior and suggesting avenues for improvement. It acknowledges the limitation of the study’s sample size but emphasizes the importance of considering corporate environmental responsibility within the context of each company's home country characteristics.