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The impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on investment efficiency in China: Does digital transformation matter?

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  • Lin, Yongjia
  • Lu, Zhenye
  • Wang, Yizhi

Abstract

This paper examines whether environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices affect firm investment efficiency and further discusses how digital transformation (DT) plays a significant role in this relationship in the context of China’s rapidly growing digital economy. The result suggests that ESG practices enhance firm investment efficiency by mitigating information asymmetries and agency conflicts. We also show that the positive relationship between ESG practices and firms’ investment efficiency is more pronounced for firms with high levels of DT.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Yongjia & Lu, Zhenye & Wang, Yizhi, 2023. "The impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices on investment efficiency in China: Does digital transformation matter?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:66:y:2023:i:c:s0275531923001769
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2023.102050
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bai, Keke & Jing, Kun & Li, Tianyu, 2024. "Corporate ESG Performance and Stock Pledge Risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Kuai, Yicheng & Wang, Peiwen & Huang, Guanglin, 2025. "Corporate ESG performance and credit misallocation: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    3. Iqbal, Najaf & Umar, Zaghum & Ruman, Asif M. & Jiang, Shaohua, 2024. "The term structure of yield curve and connectedness among ESG investments," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(PA).
    4. Cheng, Louis T.W. & Cheong, Tsun Se & Wojewodzki, Michal & Chui, David, 2025. "The effect of ESG divergence on the financial performance of Hong Kong-listed firms: An artificial neural network approach," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    5. Dicuonzo, Grazia & Palmaccio, Matteo & Shini, Matilda, 2024. "ESG, governance variables and Fintech: An empirical analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    6. Galeone, Graziana & Ranaldo, Simona & Fusco, Antonio, 2024. "ESG and FinTech: Are they connected?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    7. Zhao, Xin & Zhai, Guoqing & Charles, Vincent & Gherman, Tatiana & Lee, Hyoungsuk & Pan, Tuan & Shang, Yuping, 2024. "Enhancing enterprise investment efficiency through artificial intelligence: The role of accounting information transparency," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    8. Li, Pingrui & Zhao, Xu, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on corporate supply chain management: Evidence from listed companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    9. Kiran, Madiha & Chughtai, Sumayya & Naeem, Muhammad Abubakr, 2024. "Navigating greenwashing in the G8: Insights into family-owned firms, technology innovation, and economic policy uncertainty," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    10. Fu, Yumei & Guo, Chun, 2025. "Booster or trapper? Corporate digital transformation and capital allocation efficiency," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PB).
    11. Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Abbassi, Wajih & Chen, Yifan & Chen, Lifeng, 2024. "Outward foreign investment performance, digital transformation, and ESG performance: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    12. Quintiliani, Andrea, 2025. "Small and medium-sized enterprises and sustainable transition: Role of FinTech in a country's banking ecosystem," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    13. BENKRAIEM, Ramzi & GAAYA, Safa & LAKHAL, Faten, 2024. "Tax avoidance, investor protection, and investment inefficiency: An international evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG practices; Investment efficiency; Digital transformation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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