Abstract: Corporate green transformation is a crucial driver of high-quality economic development and the construction of a “Beautiful China.” As a key “barometer” reflecting macroeconomic dynamics, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises(MSMEs) have attracted increasing attention toward the role of entrepreneurs in shaping green development. Based on data from the Enterprise Survey for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in China (ESIEC) for 2018 and 2023, this study empirically examines the impact of micro-, small-, and medium-sized entrepreneurs’“rural imprint” on corporate green behavior and the underlying mechanisms. The results show that entrepreneurs’ rural imprint significantly promotes corporate green behavior. Mechanism analysis indicates that entrepreneurs with a rural imprint tend to exhibit stronger social responsibility awareness, which indirectly fosters corporate green behavior. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the positive effect is more pronounced among firms in the secondary and tertiary sectors. Improvements in human capital induced by formal education, vocational training, industry association participation, and migrant work experience can strengthen the positive impact. This study provides important decision-making references for governments to encourage public engagement with farming culture and to promote the concept of ecological civilization, while also enriching the literature on corporate green behavior by offering Chinese perspectives and solutions.

Key words: rural imprint, corporate green behavior, imprinting theory, social responsibility