IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i7p2274-d155634.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Financial Aspects of Sustainability: An Evidence from Slovak Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Lucia Maciková

    (Department of Corporate Finance, Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská cesta 1/b, 852 35 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Marián Smorada

    (Department of Corporate Finance, Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská cesta 1/b, 852 35 Bratislava, Slovakia)

  • Peter Dorčák

    (EZO.SK, Hviezdoslavova 7, 080 01 Prešov, Slovakia)

  • Benjamin Beug

    (Hochschule 21, Harburger Straße 6, 21614 Buxtehude, Germany)

  • Peter Markovič

    (Department of Corporate Finance, Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Dolnozemská cesta 1/b, 852 35 Bratislava, Slovakia)

Abstract

Business sustainability has been one of the leading topics of the financial management of Slovak companies since the beginning of the millennium. The initially relatively strict link only to environmental aspects has been supplemented by the economic and social dimensions in recent years, under the pressure of the business environment. Examining the link between a company’s financial performance and sustainability is addressed in this paper by the financial ratios method and the correlation and linear regression analysis methods. The subjects of investigation are enterprises from three selected sectors, with the selection criterion for the sample being determined based on the share of sales of the enterprises in the sectoral sales such that the sample includes enterprises with a total share of more than 50%. The aim was to design an integral indicator of business sustainability and linking it to the identified economic performance indicator, Economic Value Added, whereby it insists on economic pillar of sustainability exclusively. The research results show a strong direct dependence of the financial performance to the IU UP (Integral business sustainability indicator) in the supply of “Supply of electricity, gas, steam and cold air” and the independence of the IU UP in the “Information and communication” and “Industrial production” sectors. Further research should go beyond the borders of the Slovak Republic and should be aimed at proposing changes and amendments in IU UP , applying more comprehensive evaluation procedures, while respecting the public availability of input information.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucia Maciková & Marián Smorada & Peter Dorčák & Benjamin Beug & Peter Markovič, 2018. "Financial Aspects of Sustainability: An Evidence from Slovak Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, July.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2274-:d:155634
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2274/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/7/2274/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Christophe Revelli & Jean-Laurent Viviani, 2015. "Financial performance of socially responsible investing (SRI): what have we learned? A meta-analysis," Post-Print halshs-01141295, HAL.
    2. Zhao, Hongyan & Zhang, Fenghua & Kwon, Jongwook, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility research in international business journals: An author co-citation analysis," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 389-400.
    3. Qiu, Yan & Shaukat, Amama & Tharyan, Rajesh, 2016. "Environmental and social disclosures: Link with corporate financial performance," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 102-116.
    4. Prakash J. Singh & Kannan Sethuraman & Jocelin Y. Lam, 2017. "Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Dimensions on Firm Value: Some Evidence from Hong Kong and China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-24, August.
    5. Caroline Flammer, 2015. "Does Corporate Social Responsibility Lead to Superior Financial Performance? A Regression Discontinuity Approach," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 61(11), pages 2549-2568, November.
    6. Enderwick, Peter, 2018. "The scope of corporate social responsibility in networked multinational enterprises," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 410-417.
    7. Carlos Lassala & Andreea Apetrei & Juan Sapena, 2017. "Sustainability Matter and Financial Performance of Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-16, August.
    8. William Sun & Céline Louche & Roland Perez, 2011. "Finance and Sustainability: Towards a New Paradigm? A Post-Crisis Agenda," Post-Print hal-01098269, HAL.
    9. Maria J. Charlo & Ismael Moya & Ana M. Muñoz, 2017. "Financial Performance of Socially Responsible Firms: The Short- and Long-Term Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, September.
    10. Saeidi, Sayedeh Parastoo & Sofian, Saudah & Saeidi, Parvaneh & Saeidi, Sayyedeh Parisa & Saaeidi, Seyyed Alireza, 2015. "How does corporate social responsibility contribute to firm financial performance? The mediating role of competitive advantage, reputation, and customer satisfaction," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(2), pages 341-350.
    11. Chin-Shien Lin & Ruei-Yuan Chang & Van Thac Dang, 2015. "An Integrated Model to Explain How Corporate Social Responsibility Affects Corporate Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-20, June.
    12. Bhandari, Avishek & Javakhadze, David, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility and capital allocation efficiency," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 354-377.
    13. Jiří Hřebíček & Jana Soukopová & Michael Štencl & Oldřich Trenz, 2011. "Integration of economic, environmental, social and corporate governance performance and reporting in enterprises," Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis, Mendel University Press, vol. 59(7), pages 157-166.
    14. Ng, Anthony C. & Rezaee, Zabihollah, 2015. "Business sustainability performance and cost of equity capital," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 128-149.
    15. Ali Alshehhi & Haitham Nobanee & Nilesh Khare, 2018. "The Impact of Sustainability Practices on Corporate Financial Performance: Literature Trends and Future Research Potential," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-25, February.
    16. Chen, Lujie & Feldmann, Andreas & Tang, Ou, 2015. "The relationship between disclosures of corporate social performance and financial performance: Evidences from GRI reports in manufacturing industry," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 170(PB), pages 445-456.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Concepción de la Fuente-Cabrero & Mónica de Castro-Pardo & Rosa Santero-Sánchez & Pilar Laguna-Sánchez, 2019. "The Role of Mutual Guarantee Institutions in the Financial Sustainability of New Family-Owned Small Businesses," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Miroslav Variny & Kristián Hanus & Marek Blahušiak & Patrik Furda & Peter Illés & Ján Janošovský, 2021. "Energy and Environmental Assessment of Steam Management Optimization in an Ethylene Plant," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-17, November.
    3. Claudia Diana Sabău-Popa & Ramona Simut & Laurențiu Droj & Corneliu Cristian Bențe, 2020. "Analyzing Financial Health of the SMES Listed in the AERO Market of Bucharest Stock Exchange Using Principal Component Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-15, May.
    4. Elena Nechita & Cristina Lidia Manea & Elena-Mirela Nichita & Alina-Mihaela Irimescu & Diana Manea, 2020. "Is Financial Information Influencing the Reporting on SDGs? Empirical Evidence from Central and Eastern European Chemical Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-34, November.
    5. Jakub Horak & Tomas Krulicky & Zuzana Rowland & Veronika Machova, 2020. "Creating a Comprehensive Method for the Evaluation of a Company," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-23, November.
    6. Patrik Richnák & Klaudia Gubová, 2021. "Green and Reverse Logistics in Conditions of Sustainable Development in Enterprises in Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-23, January.
    7. Jian Xu & Binghan Wang, 2018. "Intellectual Capital, Financial Performance and Companies’ Sustainable Growth: Evidence from the Korean Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    8. Pavel Kotlán & Alena Kozlová & Zuzana Machová, 2021. "Opening a Path towards Sustainable Corporate Behaviour: Public Participation in Criminal Environmental Proceedings," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-18, July.
    9. Guangying Xie & Shengyan Wu & Zhengjiang Song, 2022. "Focus on Innovation or Focus on Sales? The Influences of the Government of China’s Demand-Side Reform during COVID-19 and Their Sustainability Consequences in the Consumer Products Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-21, October.
    10. Joanna Lizińska & Leszek Czapiewski, 2018. "Towards Economic Corporate Sustainability in Reporting: What Does Earnings Management around Equity Offerings Mean for Long-Term Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-23, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wu, Chia-Ming & Hu, Jin-Li, 2019. "Can CSR reduce stock price crash risk? Evidence from China's energy industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 505-518.
    2. Malik, Ihtisham A. & Chowdhury, Hasibul & Alam, Md Samsul, 2023. "Equity market response to natural disasters: Does firm's corporate social responsibility make difference?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    3. Tong, Xun & Chen, Jianghang & Zhu, Qinghua & Cheng, T.C.E., 2018. "Technical assistance, inspection regime, and corporate social responsibility performance: A behavioural perspective," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 59-69.
    4. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    5. Wuzhao Xue & Hua Li & Rizwan Ali & Ramiz Ur Rehman, 2020. "Knowledge Mapping of Corporate Financial Performance Research: A Visual Analysis Using Cite Space and Ucinet," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Ramiz ur Rehman & Muhammad Zain ul Abidin & Rizwan Ali & Safwan Mohd Nor & Muhammad Akram Naseem & Mudassar Hasan & Muhammad Ishfaq Ahmad, 2021. "The Integration of Conventional Equity Indices with Environmental, Social, and Governance Indices: Evidence from Emerging Economies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.
    7. Wang, Zhenkun & Lu, Weijie & Liu, Min, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility overinvestment in mergers and acquisitions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    8. Cristian Carini & Nicola Comincioli & Laura Poddi & Sergio Vergalli, 2017. "Measure the Performance with the Market Value Added: Evidence from CSR Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, November.
    9. Francisco J. López-Arceiz & Ana J. Bellostas & Pilar Rivera, 2018. "Twenty Years of Research on the Relationship Between Economic and Social Performance: A Meta-analysis Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 453-484, November.
    10. Wanli Li & Tiantian Yan & Yue Li & Ziqiao Yan, 2023. "Earnings management and CSR report tone: Evidence from China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1883-1902, July.
    11. Aneta Havlinova & Jiri Kukacka, 2023. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Prices After the Financial Crisis: The Role of Strategic CSR Activities," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 182(1), pages 223-242, January.
    12. Juan Pineiro-Chousa & Noelia Romero-Castro & Marcos Vizcaíno-González, 2019. "Inclusions in and Exclusions from the S&P 500 Environmental and Socially Responsible Index: A Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-31, February.
    13. Iram Hasan & Shveta Singh & Smita Kashiramka, 2022. "Does corporate social responsibility disclosure impact firm performance? An industry-wise analysis of Indian firms," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 10141-10181, August.
    14. Saeid Homayoun & Bita Mashayekhi & Amin Jahangard & Milad Samavat & Zabihollah Rezaee, 2023. "The Controversial Link between CSR and Financial Performance: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, July.
    15. Yaghoub Abdi & Xiaoni Li & Xavier Càmara-Turull, 2020. "Impact of Sustainability on Firm Value and Financial Performance in the Air Transport Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-23, November.
    16. Mazboudi, Mohamad & Sidani, Yusuf M. & Al Ariss, Akram, 2020. "Harmonization of firm CSR policies across national contexts: Evidence from Brazil & Sweden," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    17. Alexandra ZBUCHEA & Florina PÎNZARU, 2017. "Tailoring CSR Strategy to Company Size?," Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, College of Management, National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, vol. 5(3), pages 415-437, September.
    18. Jia Xu & Jiuchang Wei & Liangdong Lu, 2019. "Strategic stakeholder management, environmental corporate social responsibility engagement, and financial performance of stigmatized firms derived from Chinese special environmental policy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(6), pages 1027-1044, September.
    19. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    20. Mingzhe Qiao & Shiwei Xu & Guangdong Wu, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and the Long-Term Performance of Mergers and Acquisitions: Do Regions and Related-Party Transactions Matter?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2274-:d:155634. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.