IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v69y2024ipas1544612324011310.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Corporate ESG competitive disadvantage and cost of debt financing

Author

Listed:
  • Zhang, Shanfei
  • Xu, Guanghua
  • Shu, Ying
  • Zhu, Jian

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of firms' ESG competitive disadvantages on debt financing costs using data from Chinese A-share listed firms from 2011 to 2021. It reveals that (1) ESG competitive disadvantages heighten debt financing costs; (2) local environmental concerns and industry competition strengthen this relationship; (3) ESG competitive disadvantages increase financing costs through heightened financial risk and information asymmetry; and (4) this relationship is significant particularly for mature, declining, and privately-owned firms. This paper, for the first time, explores the penalisation mechanism of corporate negative ESG performance, providing new evidence to advocate for proactive ESG governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Shanfei & Xu, Guanghua & Shu, Ying & Zhu, Jian, 2024. "Corporate ESG competitive disadvantage and cost of debt financing," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PA).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:69:y:2024:i:pa:s1544612324011310
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106102
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324011310
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106102?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. Frederick L. Bereskin & Po‐Hsuan Hsu & Wendy Rotenberg, 2018. "The Real Effects of Real Earnings Management: Evidence from Innovation," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(1), pages 525-557, March.
    2. Qingchuan Hou & Qinglu Jin & Rong Yang & Hongqi Yuan & Guochang Zhang, 2015. "Performance Commitments of Controlling Shareholders and Earnings Management," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 1099-1127, September.
    3. Richard Borghesi & Kiyoung Chang & Ying Li, 2019. "Firm value in commonly uncertain times: the divergent effects of corporate governance and CSR," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(43), pages 4726-4741, September.
    4. Gerard Hoberg & Gordon Phillips, 2016. "Text-Based Network Industries and Endogenous Product Differentiation," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 124(5), pages 1423-1465.
    5. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    6. Dechow, Patricia M. & Sloan, Richard G., 1991. "Executive incentives and the horizon problem : An empirical investigation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1), pages 51-89, March.
    7. Han, Gefei & Luo, Yanjun, 2024. "Reduced executive shareholdings and corporate green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    8. Kong, Wen, 2023. "The impact of ESG performance on debt financing costs: Evidence from Chinese family business," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    9. Ying Shu & Xiaobin Zhuang & Rui Ying & Guanghua Xu, 2024. "Formal Institutional Pressure and the Integration of Corporate Environmental and Financial Performance: Empirical Evidence from Listed Companies in Heavily Polluting Industries in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-20, March.
    10. Shu, Ying & Zhuang, Xiaobin & Xu, Guanghua & Zhang, Shanfei & Ying, Rui, 2024. "Peer effects, environmental regulation and environmental financial integration—Empirical evidence from listed companies in heavily polluting industries," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 1446-1458.
    11. Ye, Xu & Hou, Rong & Wang, Shihan & Omar, Nor Asiah Binti, 2024. "Social media, relationship marketing and corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    12. Guido Palazzo & Andreas Scherer, 2006. "Corporate Legitimacy as Deliberation: A Communicative Framework," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 66(1), pages 71-88, June.
    13. Hovakimian, Armen & Opler, Tim & Titman, Sheridan, 2001. "The Debt-Equity Choice," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 36(1), pages 1-24, March.
    14. Stewart C. Myers & Nicholas S. Majluf, 1984. "Corporate Financing and Investment Decisions When Firms Have InformationThat Investors Do Not Have," NBER Working Papers 1396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Pittman, Jeffrey A. & Fortin, Steve, 2004. "Auditor choice and the cost of debt capital for newly public firms," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 113-136, February.
    16. DasGupta, Ranjan, 2022. "Financial performance shortfall, ESG controversies, and ESG performance: Evidence from firms around the world," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    17. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Post-Print halshs-02007374, HAL.
    18. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1027-1047, September.
    19. Ren, Xiangru & Ren, Yuning, 2024. "Public environmental concern and corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    20. William Grieser & Zack Liu, 2019. "Corporate Investment and Innovation in the Presence of Competitor Constraints," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 32(11), pages 4271-4303.
    21. Shakil, Mohammad Hassan, 2021. "Environmental, social and governance performance and financial risk: Moderating role of ESG controversies and board gender diversity," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    22. Cord H. Burchard & Juliane Proelss & Utz Schäffer & Denis Schweizer, 2021. "Bad news for announcers, good news for rivals: Are rivals fully seizing transition‐period opportunities following announcers' top management turnovers?," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(3), pages 579-607, March.
    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. 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).
    2. Huang, Wei & Goodell, John W. & Zhang, Hong, 2019. "Pre-merger management in developing markets: The role of earnings glamor," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    3. 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".
    4. Hu, Xiaoxue & Li, Dongxu, 2022. "Do horizontal mergers affect rivals’ cash holdings?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 275-298.
    5. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Guay, Wayne R. & Weber, Joseph P., 2010. "The role of information and financial reporting in corporate governance and debt contracting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 179-234, December.
    6. 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.
    7. Do, Trung K. & Huang, Henry Hongren & Ouyang, Puman, 2022. "Product market threats and leverage adjustments," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    8. Xin Qu & Majella Percy & Fang Hu & Jenny Stewart, 2022. "Can CEO equity‐based compensation limit investment‐related agency problems?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(2), pages 2579-2614, June.
    9. Drobetz, Wolfgang & Pensa, Pascal & Wöhle, Claudia B., 2004. "Kapitalstrukturtheorie in Theorie und Praxis: Ergebnisse einer Fragebogenuntersuchung," Working papers 2004/09, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    10. Naumoski Aleksandar, 2022. "Financial Policy and Companies’ Sustainable Growth," Economic Themes, Sciendo, vol. 60(3), pages 281-301, September.
    11. Shai Levi & Benjamin Segal, 2015. "The Impact of Debt-Equity Reporting Classifications on the Firm's Decision to Issue Hybrid Securities," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 801-822, December.
    12. Ana Venâncio & João Jorge, 2022. "The role of accelerator programmes on the capital structure of start-ups," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1143-1167, October.
    13. Luca Riccetti & Alberto Russo & Mauro Gallegati, 2015. "An agent based decentralized matching macroeconomic model," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 10(2), pages 305-332, October.
    14. Andy Lardon & Marc Deloof, 2014. "Financial disclosure by SMEs listed on a semi-regulated market: evidence from the Euronext Free Market," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 42(2), pages 361-385, February.
    15. Elmina Homapour & Larry Su & Fabio Caraffini & Francisco Chiclana, 2022. "Regression Analysis of Macroeconomic Conditions and Capital Structures of Publicly Listed British Firms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-28, March.
    16. Xiao, He, 2022. "Environmental regulation and firm capital structure dynamics," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 770-787.
    17. DeAngelo, Harry & DeAngelo, Linda & Stulz, René M., 2010. "Seasoned equity offerings, market timing, and the corporate lifecycle," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(3), pages 275-295, March.
    18. Elif Acar & Gamze Vural & Emin Hüseyin Çetenak, 2020. "Evidence for Financial Hierarchy Theory in Capital Structure Decisions: Data from BIST Companies," Bogazici Journal, Review of Social, Economic and Administrative Studies, Bogazici University, Department of Economics, vol. 34(1), pages 29-50.
    19. Sjur Westgaard & Amund Eidet & Stein Frydenberg & Thor Christian Grosås, 2008. "Investigating the Capital Structure of UK Real Estate Companies," Journal of Property Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 61-87, August.
    20. Souad Chaieb, 2021. "The Impact of Cash Holding on Debt Cost," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 11(6), pages 75-93.

    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:69:y:2024:i:pa:s1544612324011310. 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.