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Are more sustainable firms able to operate with lower working capital requirements?

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  • Barros, Victor
  • Falcão, Pedro Fontes
  • Sarmento, Joaquim Miranda

Abstract

This study provides evidence on the relationship between working capital management (WCM) and firms’ sustainability level covering 1,394 US publicly-listed firms in the period 2002-2020. We find that firms with higher ESG scores operate with lower working capital requirements and a shorter cash conversion cycle, although the effect comes entirely from the environmental and social pillars. The inconclusive result for the governance pillar reinforces the role of sustainability on WCM. Outperforming firms in sustainability scores have a lesser need for cash than the industry average. Overall, our findings highlight that WCM optimization may be attained following investment in firms’ sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Barros, Victor & Falcão, Pedro Fontes & Sarmento, Joaquim Miranda, 2022. "Are more sustainable firms able to operate with lower working capital requirements?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:46:y:2022:i:pb:s1544612321004025
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2021.102407
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    Cited by:

    1. Sawarni, Kumar Sanjay & Narayanasamy, Sivasankaran & Padhan, Purna Chandra, 2023. "Impact of earnings management on working capital management efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    2. Daitri Tiwary & Samit Paul, 2023. "Role of Bank Credit and External Commercial Borrowings in Working Capital Financing: Evidence from Indian Manufacturing Firms," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Hassan, M. Kabir & Aysan, Ahmet Faruk & Kayani, Umar Nawaz & Choudhury, Tonmoy, 2023. "Working capital as a firm performance savior? Evidence from Scandinavian countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Working capital management; Cash conversion cycle; Sustainability; ESG;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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