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The Sustainability of Corporate ESG Performance: An Empirical Study

Author

Listed:
  • Kezhi Yang

    (School of Business, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Tingting Zhang

    (School of Business, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Chenyun Ye

    (Accounting School, Shandong Management University, Jinan 250100, China)

Abstract

A company’s ESG (environmental, social, and government) performance is an indicator of its sustainable development. In practice, enterprises should focus on improving their governance structure and improving their governance level to achieve sustainable development and long-term value. Based on a sample of China’s A-share-listed companies from 2014 to 2022, this paper obtains data from the WIND and CSMAR databases and finally selects 14,757 observed values. With ESG performance as the explained variable and Pledge as the explanatory variable, the relationship between major shareholders’ equity pledges and ESG performance is explored using a regression analysis. The results show that the correlation coefficient, β1, between corporate ESG performance and the pledge ratio of major shareholders is −0.0167, which is significantly negative at the 1% level, indicating that the equity pledges of major shareholders will have a negative impact on corporate ESG performance, and ESG performance shows that the pressure of controlling shareholders’ equity pledges mainly reduces the performance of companies in the areas of social responsibility (S) and governance (G) and does not have a significant impact on environmental construction (E). Further research shows that under the same conditions, compared with state-owned enterprises, the equity pledge behavior of major shareholders of private enterprises has a more significant impact on corporate ESG performance. This study is a good attempt at examining the sustainability of corporate ESG performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Kezhi Yang & Tingting Zhang & Chenyun Ye, 2024. "The Sustainability of Corporate ESG Performance: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:6:p:2377-:d:1356206
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Fernando García & Jairo González-Bueno & Francisco Guijarro & Javier Oliver, 2020. "Forecasting the Environmental, Social, and Governance Rating of Firms by Using Corporate Financial Performance Variables: A Rough Set Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Xiaobei Huang & Xi Li & Senyo Tse & Jennifer Wu Tucker, 2018. "The effects of a mixed approach toward management earnings forecasts: Evidence from China," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(3-4), pages 319-351, March.
    3. Jiang, Fuxiu & Xia, Xiaoxue & Zheng, Xiaojia, 2021. "Does controlling shareholders' share pledging raise suppliers' eyebrows?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Wanlong Zhao & Wei Zhang & Xiong Xiong & Gaofeng Zou, 2019. "Share pledges, tone of earnings communication conferences, and market reaction: evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(5), pages 2817-2853, December.
    5. Huang, Xiaobei & Li, Xi & Tse, Senyo & Tucker, Jennifer Wu, 2018. "The effects of a mixed approach toward management earnings forecasts: evidence from China," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 87113, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Liu, Hongxun & Zhang, Zihan, 2023. "The impact of managerial myopia on environmental, social and governance (ESG) engagement: Evidence from Chinese firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
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