Abstract :
Keywords Environmental information disclosure; Spatial-temporal characteristics; Influencing factors; Peer effect; Superposition effect; Demonstration effect Highlights * The development of China's environmental information disclosure (EID) is in a new stage. * Dynamic spatial panel model is used to analyze the influencing factors of EID. * China's EID shows superposition, peer and demonstration effect in space-time dimensions. * The negative factors are difficult to eliminate and positive factors not exerted. * Negative factors plays during crisis while positive factors significantly in economic expansion. Abstract Environmental Information Disclosure (EID) is a new tool for environmental governance in the era of big data and information. Based on the Pollution Information Disclosure Index (PITI) of 120 cities in China from 2003 to 2019, spatial data exploratory analysis and dynamic spatial panel model were adopted to analyze the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of EID in China. The results show that (1) great progress of China's EID has been made in legislation and practice and its ways and channels are gradually becoming diversified, while it is accompanied by the problem of inadequate and unbalanced development; (2) EID shows the "superposition effect" promoted by previous accumulation has the "peer effect" of mutual imitation and learning and presents "demonstration effect", which shows significant agglomeration distribution pattern of spatial "club", while the spillover effect within the region is significant while the radiation effect between regions is weak. (3) In a dynamic process, cities with better economic development, firm performance, environmental performance and regulation, disclosure more environmental information, while the role of government competition and public participation needs further discussion. (4) Negative factors have a great influence during the economic crisis, while positive factors play a significant role in promoting the disclosure of environmental information during the economic expansion after crises. Cities in the developed regions (coastal, east and large cities) disclosure more than developing regions (inland, west, and small cities), and the positive factors are more likely to take effect. Author Affiliation: (a) Wenzhou University, Zhejiang Wenzhou, 325035, China (b) School of Urban and Regional Science, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, 200433, China (c) Business School of Ningbo University, Zhejiang Ningbo, 315000, China (d) College of Management and Technology, Walden University, MN, 55401, USA * Corresponding author. Wenzhou University, Chashan Advanced Education Park, Ouhai District, Wenzhou, 325035, China. Article History: Received 24 November 2020; Revised 28 February 2021; Accepted 12 March 2021 Byline: Yongsheng Li [eternal@163.sufe.edu.cn] (a,*), Xiangjian Zhang [xjzhang@126.com] (b), Tingting Yao [yaotingting0@126.com] (c), Abudureheman Sake [a.saki918@yahoo.com] (d), Xiao Liu [lx_liuxiao@126.com] (b), Na Peng [2567232698@qq.com] (b)