Are Family Executives Greener? Family Executive Representation and Environmental Violations in Chinese Listed Firms

This study shifts attention from reported sustainability performance to recorded environmental misconduct in family firms. Building on stewardship theory and the socioemotional wealth perspective, we examine whether family executive representation (FER) is associated with environmental violations among Chinese listed family firms. Using 13,029 firm‐year observations from 2239 Chinese listed family firms during 2008–2022, we estimate ordinary least squares models with firm‐level controls, year and industry fixed effects, and firm‐clustered standard errors. The results indicate that higher FER is significantly associated with fewer environmental violations. This association is generally consistent across a broad set of additional tests, including alternative variable measures, endogeneity checks, and alternative estimation approaches. We further show that higher internal control quality (ICQI) and greater analyst coverage strengthen the negative association between FER and environmental violations. These findings suggest that internal control systems and external monitoring may condition the environmental relevance of family executives' long‐term orientation and reputational concerns. By examining recorded environmental violations rather than broad CSR or ESG indicators, this study offers a more direct view of environmental misconduct and contributes to family business, corporate governance, and sustainability research in an emerging‐market context.