IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v58y2023ipbs1544612323008164.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does the inclusion of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI EM index promote ESG performance?

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Ping
  • Wang, Kai
  • Zhang, Junping

Abstract

This paper explores how the inclusion of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets (EM) index affects firms’ ESG performance. Making use of staggered inclusion, we construct a difference-in-differences model. We find that the inclusion of A-shares has a positive effect on ESG performance. A series of additional tests indicate that the effect appears causal. Further mechanism analysis suggests that external supervision and green innovation are the main plausible underlying economic mechanisms. Our paper sheds new light on the disputes of capital market internationalization and enriches the literature about the determinants of ESG performance, offering important implications for regulators.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Ping & Wang, Kai & Zhang, Junping, 2023. "Does the inclusion of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI EM index promote ESG performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pb:s1544612323008164
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104444
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612323008164
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104444?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wang, Ye & Liu, Xufeng & Wan, Die, 2023. "Stock market openness and ESG performance: Evidence from Shanghai-Hong Kong connect program," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1306-1319.
    2. Bilyay-Erdogan, Seda & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk & Demir, Ender, 2023. "ESG performance and dividend payout: A channel analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    3. He, Feng & Ding, Cong & Yue, Wei & Liu, Guanchun, 2023. "ESG performance and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Antonelli, Stefano & Corneli, Flavia & Ferriani, Fabrizio & Gazzani, Andrea, 2022. "Benchmark effects from the inclusion of Chinese A-shares in the MSCI EM index," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    5. Hongfeng Peng & Jingwen Yu, 2019. "Pain or Gain? Chinese Experience of Capital Account Liberalization," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 27(5), pages 79-107, September.
    6. Sha, Yezhou & Zhang, Ping & Wang, Yiru & Xu, Yifan, 2022. "Capital market opening and green innovation——Evidence from Shanghai-Hong Kong stock connect and the Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connect," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    7. Apergis, Nicholas & Poufinas, Thomas & Antonopoulos, Alexandros, 2022. "ESG scores and cost of debt," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    8. Chenyu Shan & Dragon Yongjun Tang, 2023. "The Value of Employee Satisfaction in Disastrous Times: Evidence from COVID-19," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 27(3), pages 1027-1076.
    9. Apanard P. Angkinand & Wanvimol Sawangngoenyuang & Clas Wihlborg, 2010. "Financial Liberalization and Banking Crises: A Cross‐Country Analysis," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 10(2), pages 263-292, June.
    10. Joseph E. Stiglitz, 2010. "Risk and Global Economic Architecture: Why Full Financial Integration May Be Undesirable," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 100(2), pages 388-392, May.
    11. Bose, Udichibarna & Mallick, Sushanta & Tsoukas, Serafeim, 2020. "Does easing access to foreign financing matter for firm performance?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    12. Wu, Bao & Jin, Chenfei & Monfort, Abel & Hua, Danni, 2021. "Generous charity to preserve green image? Exploring linkage between strategic donations and environmental misconduct," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 839-850.
    13. Bhandari, Avishek & Javakhadze, David, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility and capital allocation efficiency," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 354-377.
    14. Luo, Chunhua & Wei, Dianlong & He, Feng, 2023. "Corporate ESG performance and trade credit financing – Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 337-351.
    15. Tsang, Albert & Frost, Tracie & Cao, Huijuan, 2023. "Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure: A literature review," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(1).
    16. Kong, Wen, 2023. "The impact of ESG performance on debt financing costs: Evidence from Chinese family business," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    17. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2023. "High-tech firms: Dividend policy in a context of sustainability and technological change," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    18. Ravi Jagannathan & Ashwin Ravikumar & Marco Sammon, 2017. "Environmental, Social, and Governance Criteria: Why Investors are Paying Attention," NBER Working Papers 24063, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    19. Apanard P. Angkinand & Wanvimol Sawangngoenyuang & Clas Wihlborg, 2010. "Financial Liberalization and Banking Crises: A Cross-Country Analysis-super-," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 10(Financial), pages 263-292.
    20. Mishra, Anil V. & Ratti, Ronald A., 2011. "Governance, monitoring and foreign investment in Chinese companies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 171-188, June.
    21. Pedersen, Lasse Heje & Fitzgibbons, Shaun & Pomorski, Lukasz, 2021. "Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 572-597.
    22. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    23. Wen, Jun & Zhao, Xin-Xin & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2021. "The impact of extreme events on energy price risk," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    24. Ding, Haoyuan & Jin, Yuying & Koedijk, Kees G. & Wang, Yunjin, 2020. "Valuation effect of capital account liberalization: Evidence from the Chinese stock market," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    25. Dong, Shizheng & Zheng, Jianming & Jia, Haoyang & Zhang, Zili, 2023. "Impact of capital market internationalization on stock markets: Evidence from the inclusion of China A-shares in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bagh, Tanveer & Zhou, Bingjun & Alawi, Suha Mahmoud & Azam, Rauf I, 2024. "ESG resilience: Exploring the non-linear effects of ESG performance on firms sustainable growth," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    2. Zhang, Rongwu & Fu, Wenqiang & Lu, Tong, 2023. "Capital market opening and corporate environmental performance: Empirical evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    3. Xu, Yong & Zhao, Xin & Wang, Jian & Xie, Peijun, 2023. "Clarifying the dispute of corporate social responsibility: Evidence from green technological innovation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Ren, Xiaohang & Zeng, Gudian & Zhao, Yang, 2023. "Digital finance and corporate ESG performance: Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    5. Yin, Zhujia & Deng, Rantian & Xia, Jiejin & Zhao, Lili, 2024. "Climate risk and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Rojo-Suárez, Javier & Alonso-Conde, Ana B. & Gonzalez-Ruiz, Juan David, 2024. "Does sustainability improve financial performance? An analysis of Latin American oil and gas firms," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Alves, Carlos Francisco & Meneses, Lilian Lima, 2024. "ESG scores and debt costs: Exploring indebtedness, agency costs, and financial system impact," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    8. Sun, Zhennan & Du, Qunyang & Du, Anna Min & Li, Zhongyuan & Yang, Tianle, 2024. "The information environment and ecological environment perspectives: Capital market openness and firm ESG rating divergence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    9. Zhu, Bo & Wang, Yansen, 2024. "Does social trust affect firms' ESG performance?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    10. Zhu, Ruoyu & Tan, Kehu & Xin, Xiaohui, 2024. "Speed up for sustainable development: High-speed rail and corporate ESG performance," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. Barros, Victor & Verga Matos, Pedro & Miranda Sarmento, Joaquim & Rino Vieira, Pedro, 2024. "ESG performance and firms’ business and geographical diversification: An empirical approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    12. Liang, Yuchao & Tan, Qi & Pang, Jun, 2024. "Bless or curse, how does extreme temperature shape heavy pollution companies' ESG performance?-Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    13. Fabrizio Ferriani & Marcello Pericoli, 2024. "ESG risks and corporate viability: insights from default probability term structure analysis," Questioni di Economia e Finanza (Occasional Papers) 892, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    14. Zhao, Panting & Yao, Xin & Shen, Rui, 2024. "Capital market internationalization and firms' ESG performance: Evidence from the inclusion of China A-shares in the MSCI Emerging Market Index," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    15. Wang, Junkai & Qi, Baolei & Li, Yan & Hossain, Muhammad Istiaque & Tian, Haowen, 2024. "Does institutional commitment affect ESG performance of firms? Evidence from the United Nations principles for responsible investment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    16. Zhang, Fan & Lai, Xiaobing & Guo, Chong, 2024. "ESG disclosure and investment-financing maturity mismatch: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    17. Wang, Hu, 2024. "ESG investment preference and fund vulnerability," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    18. Chenpeng Du, 2022. "The Impact of China’s Capital Market Opening Up to the Domestic Stock Idiosyncratic Risk," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 12(2), pages 1-5.
    19. Michalski, Lachlan & Low, Rand Kwong Yew, 2024. "Determinants of corporate credit ratings: Does ESG matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    20. Yang Deng & Tze San Ong & Rosmila Senik, 2024. "Trick or treat? A bibliometric literature review of corporate social responsibility and earnings management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4361-4383, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    MSCI emerging markets index; Chinese A-shares; ESG performance; Capital market internationalization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F64 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Environment
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pb:s1544612323008164. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.