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ESG and Firm's Default Risk

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  • Li, Hao
  • Zhang, Xuan
  • Zhao, Yang

Abstract

We investigate the implications of ESG practices of Chinese listed firms on their default risk. We explore the relationship between default risk and ESG ratings. Applying year-by-season and firm fixed effects, we find that higher ESG ratings mitigate firms’ default risk. The mitigation effect increases as the term structure of default risk increases. We find that the magnitude of ESG rating's impact on firms’ default risk is smaller for manufacturing firms than non-manufacturing firms. Our findings suggest that credit markets well reflect the ESG practices of firms; investors may improve credit risk management by considering the ESG performances of firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Hao & Zhang, Xuan & Zhao, Yang, 2022. "ESG and Firm's Default Risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:47:y:2022:i:pb:s154461232200040x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2022.102713
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    6. Palmieri, Egidio & Ferilli, Greta B. & Stefanelli, Valeria & Geretto, Enrico F. & Polato, Maurizio, 2023. "Assessing the influence of ESG score, industry, and stock index on firm default risk: A sustainable bank lending perspective," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    7. Tang, Chia-Hsien & Lee, Yen-Hsien & Hsiao, Ming-Chun & Liu, Hung-Chun, 2024. "Exploring the impact of ESG components, CEO characteristics, and organizational themes on downside risk: Insights from Chinese firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
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    9. Xiao, Zhongyi & Huang, Xinfei & Chen, Haitao, 2024. "The impact of corporate ESG performance on buyers’ bargaining power in the industrial chain: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    10. Zhu, Bo & Wang, Yansen, 2024. "Does social trust affect firms' ESG performance?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    11. Zhang, Jingyi & Liu, Xuejuan, 2024. "The mechanism of enterprise credit guarantee risk contagion considering ESG," Mathematics and Computers in Simulation (MATCOM), Elsevier, vol. 221(C), pages 503-514.
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    14. Syed Hassan Jamil & Majid Jamal Khan, 2024. "Do corporate environmental protection efforts reduce firm‐level operating risk? Evidence from a developing country," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4480-4492, July.
    15. Do, Trung K. & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2023. "Is mandatory sustainability disclosure associated with default risk? Evidence from emerging markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Environmental; Social; Governance (ESG); Default risk; Listed firms; JEL Classification: G24; G33;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G33 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Bankruptcy; Liquidation

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