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Financial performance shortfall, ESG controversies, and ESG performance: Evidence from firms around the world

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  • DasGupta, Ranjan

Abstract

Firms search for new strategic actions when their financial performance falls below their aspired level. This study examines whether financial performance shortfalls motivate firms to undertake improved ESG practices, possibly to maintain future legitimacy. It also investigates whether ESG controversies mediate firms’ ESG decisions in such situations. It finds a strong positive influence of financial performance shortfall on firm's ESG performance. However, when such firms are constrained by high levels of ESG controversies, they are less likely to engage in higher ESG practices, although such controversies have positive mediating impact on the relationship between financial performance shortfalls and ESG performance.

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  • DasGupta, Ranjan, 2022. "Financial performance shortfall, ESG controversies, and ESG performance: Evidence from firms around the world," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:46:y:2022:i:pb:s1544612321004633
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102487
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    8. Oh-Suk Yang & Jae-Hoon Han, 2023. "Assessing the Effect of Corporate ESG Management on Corporate Financial & Market Performance and Export," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-30, January.
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    11. Chen, Lifeng & Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Gao, Yuying & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Lucey, Brian, 2023. "ESG disclosure and technological innovation capabilities of the Chinese listed companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    12. Dahlström, Petter & Lööf, Hans & Sahamkhadam, Maziar & Stephan, Andreas & Lu, Emma Rui, 2023. "Science-based emission targets and risk-adjusted portfolio return: An analysis using global SBTi-validated stocks," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 492, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    13. Eleni Zafeiriou & Alexandros Garefalakis & Ioannis Passas & Konstantina Ragazou, 2023. "Illicit and Corruption Mitigation Strategy in the Financial Sector: A Study with a Hybrid Methodological Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.
    14. Hao, Yun & Wu, Wenzhao, 2024. "Environment, social, and governance performance and corporate financing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
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    17. Paola Brighi & Antonio Carlo Francesco Della Bina & Valeria Venturelli, 2022. "Do ESG Investments Mitigate ESG Controversies? Evidence From International Data," Centro Studi di Banca e Finanza (CEFIN) (Center for Studies in Banking and Finance) 0084, Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Economia "Marco Biagi".
    18. Zhang, Dongyang & Bai, Dingchuan & Chen, Xingyu, 2024. "Can crude oil futures market volatility motivate peer firms in competing ESG performance? An exploration of Shanghai International Energy Exchange," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    19. Jiajia Liu & Zhenzhen Ge & Yahan Wang, 2024. "Role of environmental, social, and governance rating data in predicting financial risk and risk management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 260-273, January.
    20. Kiran, Madiha & Chughtai, Sumayya & Naeem, Muhammad Abubakr, 2024. "Navigating greenwashing in the G8: Insights into family-owned firms, technology innovation, and economic policy uncertainty," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    21. Shusen Zhu & Hui Sun & Beibei Zhang & Zedong Yang & Xuechao Xia, 2023. "Bilateral Effects of ESG Responsibility Fulfillment of Industrial Companies on Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    22. Reyes Samaniego-Medina & Pilar Giraldez-Puig, 2022. "Do Sustainability Risks Affect Credit Ratings? Evidence from European Banks," The AMFITEATRU ECONOMIC journal, Academy of Economic Studies - Bucharest, Romania, vol. 24(61), pages 720-720, August.
    23. Gui, Zhou & Lu, Xiaoyu, 2024. "Strengthening of rule of law and ESG performance of corporations," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    24. Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Khine Kyaw & Pornsit Jiraporn, 2024. "ESG controversies and corporate governance: Evidence from board size," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4218-4232, July.
    25. Bang, Jeongseok & Ryu, Doojin & Yu, Jinyoung, 2023. "ESG controversies and investor trading behavior in the Korean market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental; Social and governance performance; Financial performance shortfall; ESG controversy; Aspiration level;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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