This study examines the association between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance, and then investigates the moderating effect of regional green development on the above association. Using a sample from the Chinese stock market during the period of 2008-2016, the findings reveal that the globalised board of directors is significantly positively associated with corporate environmental performance, suggesting that the globalised board of directors can play an important role in strengthening the moral and strategic motivations of corporate environmental responsibility, and enhance corporate environmental performance. Further, regional green development attenuates the positive relation between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance. Above findings are robust to a variety of sensitivity tests and our main conclusions are still valid after controlling for the potential endogeneity between the globalised board of directors and corporate environmental performance. Interestingly, additional tests reveal that the positive effect of foreign directors on corporate environmental performance is more pronounced for those from the countries (regions) with shorter time zone difference, stronger investor protection and better performance in environmental responsibilities.

Stringent government policies, in general, and strict containment and closure policies in particular including workplace closing, restrictions on gatherings, close of public transport, stay-at-home order, restrictions on internal movement, and international travel control are associated with a lower spread rate of COVID-19 cases. On the other hand, school closures and public event cancellations have not been found to be associated with lower COVID-19 spread. Restrictions on international travel and the closing of public transport are two policies that stand out and have a consistent and slowing effect on the spread of COVID-19. The slowing effect of the containment and closure policies on the spread of COVID-19 becomes stronger one week after the policies have been implemented, consistent with the SARS-CoV-2 transmission pattern and the incubation period evolution. Furthermore, the slowing effect becomes stronger for culturally tight countries and countries with a higher population density. Our findings have important policy implications, implying that governments need to carefully implement containment and closure policies in their own countries’ social and cultural contexts, with an emphasis on the ideas of the common interest, personal responsibility, and the sense of community.

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