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The impact of CEO hedging on corporate ESG performance: Evidence from the United States

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  • Wang, Yanuo
  • Xie, Zhengying
  • Geng, Haipeng
  • Croce, Jorry

Abstract

Corporate ESG performance is increasingly recognized as crucial for sustainable development, yet the impact of CEO behavior on this metric remains understudied. This paper investigates how CEO hedging affects corporate ESG performance, addressing a significant gap in the literature. Using data from U.S. listed companies from 2013 to 2021, we employ regression analysis and propensity score matching to examine this relationship. Our findings reveal that CEO hedging significantly reduces corporate ESG performance. Further analysis shows that the CEO's shareholding ratio and corporate risk enhance this negative correlation, while external supervision mitigates it. Heterogeneity analysis indicates a stronger correlation in low-polluting enterprises. These results underscore the ethical implications of CEO option trading for personal risk hedging and highlight the importance of avoiding behaviors that can adversely affect a firm's ESG performance. Our study contributes to the understanding of corporate governance and sustainable development, offering valuable insights for policymakers and corporate leaders in designing effective strategies to enhance ESG performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Yanuo & Xie, Zhengying & Geng, Haipeng & Croce, Jorry, 2024. "The impact of CEO hedging on corporate ESG performance: Evidence from the United States," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:69:y:2024:i:pa:s1544612324010973
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106067
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ceo hedging; Corporate esg performance; Shareholding ratio; corporate risk;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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