This study aims to investigate how the coordinated development of digital finance affects the shadow banking activities of nonfinancial firms in China. It particularly examines whether this influence is nonlinear and how environmental regulation moderates the relationship.
Using panel data from nonfinancial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges in China from 2012 to 2022, this study constructs a digital finance coordination index via a coupling coordination model and use regression analyses to test nonlinear and moderating effects.
Digital finance coordination significantly promotes shadow banking activities, demonstrating a “U-shaped” nonlinear relationship. Environmental regulation moderates this effect: under low-intensity regulation, the promotion is stronger and nonlinearity weakens; under high-intensity regulation, the U-shaped effect is less evident.
This study is limited by the sample of listed nonfinancial firms, which may not reflect trends in the broader economy. Future research should examine other sectors or regions for more generalizable insights.
Policymakers should tailor financial regulations to mitigate risks associated with the growth of shadow banking driven by digital finance. Stronger oversight is needed, particularly in markets with weak environmental regulation.
The study highlights the need for a balanced regulatory approach to protect financial stability and reduce risks to social equity posed by unregulated shadow banking.
This study reveals the nonlinear impact of digital finance on shadow banking and the moderating role of environmental regulation, offering new empirical insights for understanding financial behavior in emerging markets.
