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Does adopting voluntary ESG practices affect executive compensation?

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  • Abudy, Menachem Meni
  • Gavious, Ilanit
  • Shust, Efrat

Abstract

The Equator Principles (EP) is a voluntary framework of environmental guidelines for financial institutions in project financing. This paper examines the impact of an EP adoption on executive compensation. Compared to a matched sample of non-adopting banks, we find that total compensation significantly increased in banks that adopted the EP. The increase was driven by larger grants of equity-based compensation. This effect of EP adoption on executive pay does not depend on the risk management framework of the bank or on the timing of the adoption. Lastly, we do not find evidence of a change in the adopting banks’ performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Abudy, Menachem Meni & Gavious, Ilanit & Shust, Efrat, 2023. "Does adopting voluntary ESG practices affect executive compensation?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:83:y:2023:i:c:s1042443122001901
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2022.101718
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhang, Kai & Wan, Shan & Zhou, Yuehui, 2024. "Executive compensation, internal governance and ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG; Executive compensation; Banks; Financial institutions; Equator principles;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • M12 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Personnel Management; Executives; Executive Compensation
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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