IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v55y2023ipbs1544612323003446.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does competition affect ESG controversies? Evidence from the banking industry

Author

Listed:
  • Cicchiello, Antonella Francesca
  • Cotugno, Matteo
  • Foroni, Cristian

Abstract

This study empirically investigates the link between competition (measured by the Lerner index) and banks’ Environmental, Social, and Governance Controversies (ESGC). Using a logit regression analysis on a sample of European banks over the period 2010–2020, we find that banks respond to increased competitive pressure from consumers and competitors by avoiding their engagement in ESG controversies that can undermine their reputation. Overall, these results highlight that competition is an important factor that stimulates banks’ sustainability practices in order to preserve their competitive advantage. These findings are robust and hold for alternative measures of market competition and ESG controversies.

Suggested Citation

  • Cicchiello, Antonella Francesca & Cotugno, Matteo & Foroni, Cristian, 2023. "Does competition affect ESG controversies? Evidence from the banking industry," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:55:y:2023:i:pb:s1544612323003446
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.103972
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612323003446
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.103972?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martins, Henrique Castro, 2022. "Competition and ESG practices in emerging markets: Evidence from a difference-in-differences model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 46(PA).
    2. Panzar, John C & Rosse, James N, 1987. "Testing for "Monopoly" Equilibrium," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(4), pages 443-456, June.
    3. Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2017. "On the foundations of corporate social responsibility," Other publications TiSEM c6821f0a-e7f0-41da-adba-1, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    4. Beck, Thorsten & De Jonghe, Olivier & Schepens, Glenn, 2013. "Bank competition and stability: Cross-country heterogeneity," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 218-244.
    5. Stijn Claessens & Luc Laeven, 2004. "What drives bank competition? Some international evidence," Proceedings, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, pages 563-592.
    6. Price, Joseph M. & Sun, Wenbin, 2017. "Doing good and doing bad: The impact of corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility on firm performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 82-97.
    7. Liang, Lien-Wen & Chang, Hai-Yen & Shao, Hao-Ling, 2018. "Does sustainability make banks more cost efficient?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 13-23.
    8. Francisco Javier Forcadell & Elisa Aracil, 2017. "European Banks' Reputation for Corporate Social Responsibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(1), pages 1-14, January.
    9. Andrei Shleifer, 2004. "Does Competition Destroy Ethical Behavior?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 94(2), pages 414-418, May.
    10. Amal Aouadi & Sylvain Marsat, 2018. "Do ESG Controversies Matter for Firm Value? Evidence from International Data," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 151(4), pages 1027-1047, September.
    11. Schiemann, Frank & Tietmeyer, Raphael, 2022. "ESG Controversies, ESG Disclosure and Analyst Forecast Accuracy," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    12. Mark Bagnoli & Susan G. Watts, 2003. "Selling to Socially Responsible Consumers: Competition and The Private Provision of Public Goods," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(3), pages 419-445, September.
    13. Hao Liang & Luc Renneboog, 2017. "On the Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(2), pages 853-910, April.
    14. Caroline Flammer, 2015. "Does product market competition foster corporate social responsibility? Evidence from trade liberalization," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(10), pages 1469-1485, October.
    15. Shen, Chung-Hua & Wu, Meng-Wen & Chen, Ting-Hsuan & Fang, Hao, 2016. "To engage or not to engage in corporate social responsibility: Empirical evidence from global banking sector," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 207-225.
    16. Julian F. Kölbel & Timo Busch & Leonhardt M. Jancso, 2017. "How Media Coverage of Corporate Social Irresponsibility Increases Financial Risk," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(11), pages 2266-2284, November.
    17. Forgione, Antonio Fabio & Migliardo, Carlo, 2020. "CSR engagement and market structure: Evidence from listed banks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Forgione, Antonio Fabio & Migliardo, Carlo, 2020. "CSR engagement and market structure: Evidence from listed banks," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    2. Zhong, Xi & Chen, Weihong & Ren, Ge, 2022. "The impact of corporate social irresponsibility on emerging-economy firms’ long-term performance: An explanation based on signal theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 345-357.
    3. Manthos D. Delis & Sotirios Kokas & Steven Ongena, 2016. "Foreign Ownership and Market Power in Banking: Evidence from a World Sample," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 48(2-3), pages 449-483, March.
    4. Brei, Michael & Jacolin, Luc & Noah, Alphonse, 2020. "Credit risk and bank competition in Sub-Saharan Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    5. Dorfleitner, Gregor & Kreuzer, Christian & Sparrer, Christian, 2022. "To sin in secret is no sin at all: On the linkage of policy, society, culture, and firm characteristics with corporate scandals," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 762-784.
    6. Laowattanabhongse, Sanhapas & Sukcharoensin, Sorasart, 2017. "The Linkage between Bank Competition and Stability: New International Evidence," Asian Journal of Applied Economics, Kasetsart University, Center for Applied Economics Research, vol. 24(2), November.
    7. Anita Mendiratta & Shveta Singh & Surendra Singh Yadav & Arvind Mahajan, 2023. "Bibliometric and Topic Modeling Analysis of Corporate Social Irresponsibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 24(3), pages 319-339, September.
    8. Andrei Dubovik & Natasha Kalara, 2018. "Can we measure banking sector competition robustly?," CPB Discussion Paper 386.rdf, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    9. Ferdaous Bahri & Taher Hamza, 2020. "The Impact of Market Power on Bank Risk-Taking: an Empirical Investigation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(3), pages 1198-1233, September.
    10. Ho, Ly & Bai, Min & Lu, Yue & Qin, Yafeng, 2021. "The effect of corporate sustainability performance on leverage adjustments," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(5).
    11. Noman, Abu Hanifa Md. & Gee, Chan Sok & Isa, Che Ruhana, 2018. "Does bank regulation matter on the relationship between competition and financial stability? Evidence from Southeast Asian countries," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 144-161.
    12. Samarasinghe, Ama & Uylangco, Katherine, 2021. "An examination of the effect of stock market liquidity on bank market power," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    13. Jirawan Prayoonrattana & Thanarak Laosuthi & Bundit Chaivichayachat, 2020. "Empirical Measurement of Competition in the Thai Banking Industry," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-20, June.
    14. E Philip Davis & Dilruba Karim & Dennison Noel, 2019. "Bank Leverage Ratios, Risk and Competition - An Investigation Using Individual Bank Data," National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) Discussion Papers 499, National Institute of Economic and Social Research.
    15. Tiago Cruz Gonçalves & Victor Barros & José Vicente Avelar, 2023. "Environmental, social and governance scores in Europe: what drives financial performance for larger firms?," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 121-131.
    16. Huayta, Katia & Garcia, Antonella & Sotomayor, Narda, 2018. "Competitive Environment and Financial Stability in the Peruvian Microfinance System," Working Papers 2018-005, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú.
    17. Andrei Dubovik & Natasha Kalara, 2018. "Can we measure banking sector competition robustly?," CPB Discussion Paper 386, CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis.
    18. Payam Hanafizadeh & Seyedali Marjaie, 2020. "Trends and turning points of banking: a timespan view," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 14(6), pages 1183-1219, December.
    19. Bátiz-Zuk, Enrique & Lara-Sánchez, José Luis, 2022. "Measuring the evolution of competition and the impact of the financial reform in the Mexican banking sector, 2008–2019," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    20. Samangi Bandaranayake & Kuntal Das & W. Robert Reed, 2017. "A Replication of “Are Competitive Banking Systems More Stable?” (Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking, 2009)," Working Papers in Economics 17/01, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG; Market competition; European countries; Banking sector; Corporate social responsibility;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • 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

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:eee:finlet:v:55:y:2023:i:pb:s1544612323003446. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    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.