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The level of sustainability and mutual fund performance in Europe: An empirical analysis using ESG ratings

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  • Guido Abate
  • Ignazio Basile
  • Pierpaolo Ferrari

Abstract

Over recent years, investors' attention on the environment, social responsibility, and governance (ESG) has been growing. At the same time, managers, investors, and regulators are interested in ascertaining whether mutual funds that invest in ESG‐compliant assets perform better than those with a low ESG commitment. The sustainability of funds' portfolios can be measured by ESG ratings, a measure of the financially material ESG factors of the securities held by a fund. Our study therefore aims to verify whether funds with high ESG ratings outperform funds with low ESG ratings, considering the risks taken, including higher moments, and costs borne by investors. Our analysis is carried out on a sample of 634 European mutual funds. By using data envelopment analysis, it provides evidence of the superior efficiency of funds investing in high ESG‐rated securities.

Suggested Citation

  • Guido Abate & Ignazio Basile & Pierpaolo Ferrari, 2021. "The level of sustainability and mutual fund performance in Europe: An empirical analysis using ESG ratings," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1446-1455, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:28:y:2021:i:5:p:1446-1455
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.2175
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Hu, 2024. "ESG investment preference and fund vulnerability," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    2. Robert Engle & Marina Brogi & Nicola Cucari & Valentina Lagasio, 2021. "Environmental, Social, Governance: Implications for businesses and effects for stakeholders," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1423-1425, September.
    3. Irene Bengo & Leonardo Boni & Alessandro Sancino, 2022. "EU financial regulations and social impact measurement practices: A comprehensive framework on finance for sustainable development," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 809-819, July.
    4. Fabio Pisani & Giorgia Russo, 2021. "Sustainable Finance and COVID-19: The Reaction of ESG Funds to the 2020 Crisis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-18, November.
    5. Jorge Antunes & Peter Wanke & Thiago Fonseca & Yong Tan, 2023. "Do ESG Risk Scores Influence Financial Distress? Evidence from a Dynamic NDEA Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-32, May.
    6. Agnessa O. Inshakova & Anastasia A. Sozinova & Tatiana N. Litvinova, 2021. "Corporate Fight against the COVID-19 Risks Based on Technologies of Industry 4.0 as a New Direction of Social Responsibility," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-11, November.
    7. Ye Lim Jung & Hyoung Sun Yoo, 2023. "Environmental, social, and governance activities and firm performance: Global evidence and the moderating effect of market competition," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 2830-2839, November.
    8. Ling, Aifan & Li, Junxue & Wen, Limin & Zhang, Yi, 2023. "When trackers are aware of ESG: Do ESG ratings matter to tracking error portfolio performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Davide Lauria & W. Brent Lindquist & Stefan Mittnik & Svetlozar T. Rachev, 2022. "ESG-Valued Portfolio Optimization and Dynamic Asset Pricing," Papers 2206.02854, arXiv.org.
    10. Paola Fandella & Bruno S. Sergi & Emiliano Sironi, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility performance and the cost of capital in BRICS countries. The problem of selectivity using environmental, social and governance scores," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1712-1722, July.
    11. Papathanasiou, Spyros & Koutsokostas, Drosos, 2024. "Sustainability ratings and fund performance: New evidence from European ESG equity mutual funds," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    12. Zanin, Luca, 2023. "A flexible estimation of sectoral portfolio exposure to climate transition risks in the European stock market," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    13. Chunya Ren & Irene Wei Kiong Ting & Wen‐Min Lu & Qian Long Kweh, 2022. "Nonlinear effects of ESG on energy‐adjusted firm efficiency: Evidence from the stakeholder engagement of apple incorporated," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1231-1246, September.
    14. Díaz, Antonio & Escribano, Ana & Esparcia, Carlos, 2024. "Sustainable risk preferences on asset allocation: a higher order optimal portfolio study," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).

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