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ESG rating disagreement, external attention and stock return: Evidence from China

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  • Tan, Ruipeng
  • Pan, Lulu

Abstract

Using a comprehensive dataset comprising various ratings on ESG performance of A-listed companies in China, we find that ESG rating disagreement exerts a significantly negative influence on both stock returns and volatility. External attention serves as a crucial moderating factor influencing the relationship.

Suggested Citation

  • Tan, Ruipeng & Pan, Lulu, 2023. "ESG rating disagreement, external attention and stock return: Evidence from China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:231:y:2023:i:c:s0165176523002938
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111268
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Xiaoke & Zhao, Xuankai & Qu, Linshan, 2021. "Do green policies catalyze green investment? Evidence from ESG investing developments in China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    2. Florian Berg & Julian F Kölbel & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings [Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1315-1344.
    3. Aaron K. Chatterji & David I. Levine & Michael W. Toffel, 2009. "How Well Do Social Ratings Actually Measure Corporate Social Responsibility?," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 125-169, March.
    4. 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).
    5. Luluk Widyawati, 2021. "Measurement concerns and agreement of environmental social governance ratings," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(S1), pages 1589-1623, April.
    6. Avramov, Doron & Cheng, Si & Lioui, Abraham & Tarelli, Andrea, 2022. "Sustainable investing with ESG rating uncertainty," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(2), pages 642-664.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Yong Shi & Tongsheng Yao, 2025. "ESG Rating Divergence: Existence, Driving Factors, and Impact Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
    2. Minghua Dong & Miaomiao Li & Hongxia Wang & Yuanyuan Pang, 2025. "ESG Disagreement and Stock Price Crash Risk: Evidence from China," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 32(1), pages 267-299, March.
    3. Li, Ge & Cheng, Yuxiang, 2024. "Impact of environmental, social, and governance rating disagreement on real earnings management in Chinese listed companies," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    4. Zeng, Qingduo & Xu, Yang & Hao, Mengshu & Gao, Meiqi, 2025. "ESG rating disagreement, volatility, and stock returns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    5. Ju, Chunhua & Fang, Xusheng & Shen, Zhonghua, 2025. "ESG rating divergence and stock price crash risk," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    6. Diana Elena VASIU, 2024. "Esg Rates Divergence On The Emerging Markets In The European Union," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 19(2), pages 274-289, August.
    7. Zhang, Xing & Li, Yiwen & Ji, Mingcan & Wang, Jiabian, 2024. "Does ESG help reduce the goodwill impairment?—From perspectives of information increment and information manipulation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    8. Ajithakumari Vijayappan Nair Biju & Snehith Jacob Kodiyatt & P. P. Nithi Krishna & Geetha Sreelekshmi, 2023. "ESG sentiments and divergent ESG scores: suggesting a framework for ESG rating," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(12), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Li, Li & Zhang, Du & Li, Rongrong, 2024. "ESG rating disagreement and corporate innovation: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    10. Wang, Haijun & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Ge, Chen & Sun, Guanglin, 2024. "Corporate ESG rating divergence and excess stock returns," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG rating disagreement; Stock returns; Volatility; External attention;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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