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Effect of ESG performance on the cost of equity capital: Evidence from China

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  • Chen, Yonghuai
  • Li, Tao
  • Zeng, Qing
  • Zhu, Bo

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the influence of environmental protection, social responsibility and corporate governance (ESG) performance on the cost of equity (COE) capital of Chinese A-Share companies between 2010 and 2020. Benchmark analysis discovers that ESG performance can significantly reduce the cost of equity capital of listed companies, which is robust even when heteroscedasticity, sequence correlation and cross-section correlation are controlled, respectively, or simultaneously. Mediating effects are discovered that ESG can, not only directly, but also indirectly reduce the cost of equity capital by reducing the market risk of enterprises and the increasing of their equity diversification.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Yonghuai & Li, Tao & Zeng, Qing & Zhu, Bo, 2023. "Effect of ESG performance on the cost of equity capital: Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 348-364.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:reveco:v:83:y:2023:i:c:p:348-364
    DOI: 10.1016/j.iref.2022.09.001
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    2. 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).
    3. Zhu, Bo & Wang, Yansen, 2024. "Does social trust affect firms' ESG performance?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    4. Wang, Yizhi & Lin, Yongjia & Fu, Xiaoqing & Chen, Songhe, 2023. "Institutional ownership heterogeneity and ESG performance: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
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    7. Aimin Qian & Jingyan Li, 2024. "Effect of Appointed Directors on Corporate Carbon Emission Intensity: Evidence from Mixed-Ownership Reform in Chinese Private Industrial Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-37, July.
    8. Hu, Xinwen & Hua, Renhai & Liu, Qingfu & Wang, Chuanjie, 2023. "The green fog: Environmental rating disagreement and corporate greenwashing," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    9. Yadu Zhang & Yiteng Zhang & Zuoren Sun, 2023. "The Impact of Carbon Emission Trading Policy on Enterprise ESG Performance: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-27, May.
    10. Mandas, Marco & Lahmar, Oumaima & Piras, Luca & De Lisa, Riccardo, 2023. "ESG in the financial industry: What matters for rating analysts?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    11. Tan, Xiujie & Liu, Gufeng & Cheng, Si, 2024. "How does ESG performance affect green transformation of resource-based enterprises: Evidence from Chinese listed enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    12. Zhang, Dongyang & Bai, Dingchuan & Chen, Xingyu, 2024. "Can crude oil futures market volatility motivate peer firms in competing ESG performance? An exploration of Shanghai International Energy Exchange," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    13. Qian, Shuitu & Yu, Wenzhe, 2024. "Green finance and environmental, social, and governance performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(PA), pages 1185-1202.
    14. Xuemei Zhou & Sifeng Nian, 2024. "Sustainable Pathways: ESG Disclosure Performance and Optimization in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-25, May.
    15. Yunfu Zhu & Haoling Yang & Ma Zhong, 2023. "Do ESG Ratings of Chinese Firms Converge or Diverge? A Comparative Analysis Based on Multiple Domestic and International Ratings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-17, August.

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