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Does share pledging affect corporate sustainability performance? Empirical evidence from an emerging market

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  • Zhang, Huili
  • Huang, Yibo
  • Zou, Zhiwei

Abstract

Using data of Chinese A-share firms between 2010 and 2021, this paper examines whether and how share pledging affects corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. We find that share pledging by major shareholders reduces corporate ESG performance, and this finding remains robust after various robustness tests, such as addressing endogeneity issues and using alternative measures. We also find that major shareholders' share pledging inhibits ESG performance by exacerbating short-term financial behaviors such as tunneling and earnings management and suppressing sustainable investments such as green innovation, social donations, and internal control. It suggests that firms with share pledging prioritize short-term financial activities and decrease investment in sustainable development. The heterogeneity tests show that investors focusing on long-term development, effective external monitoring, and internal governance could mitigate the negative impact of share pledging on sustainability performance. Furthermore, we find that the negative influence of share pledging on ESG performance occurs mainly in the sample in which the pledged funds are invested in entities other than the focal listed companies. Based on sustainable business development, this paper contributes to the literature on the economic consequences of share pledging. These findings are valuable and motivating for regulators and investors in their decision-making.

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  • Zhang, Huili & Huang, Yibo & Zou, Zhiwei, 2024. "Does share pledging affect corporate sustainability performance? Empirical evidence from an emerging market," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:63:y:2024:i:c:s1566014124000906
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2024.101195
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Share pledging; Corporate sustainability; ESG performance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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