IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v58y2023ipcs1544612323008917.html

Exploring the nexus between ESG disclosure and corporate sustainable growth: Moderating role of media attention

Author

Listed:
  • Chai, Shanglei
  • Cao, Mengjun
  • Li, Qiang
  • Ji, Qiang
  • Liu, Zuankuo

Abstract

The nexus between ESG disclosure and corporate sustainable growth remains controversial in the existing literature. This study explores how ESG disclosure impacts sustainable growth rate (SGR) of Chinese companies from 2012 to 2022 using quantile regression method. Our results show that ESG disclosure has a favorable effect on SGR and the higher the level of ESG disclosure, the greater the promotion effect on SGR. This positive relationship is more pronounced by high media attention. In addition, digitalization as a factor leads to the heterogeneity of ESG role on SGR and media moderating effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Chai, Shanglei & Cao, Mengjun & Li, Qiang & Ji, Qiang & Liu, Zuankuo, 2023. "Exploring the nexus between ESG disclosure and corporate sustainable growth: Moderating role of media attention," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PC).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pc:s1544612323008917
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104519
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612323008917
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104519?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

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rodolphe Durand & Robert M. Grant & Tammy L. Madsen & Lenos Trigeorgis & Jeffrey J. Reuer, 2017. "Real options theory in strategic management," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(1), pages 42-63, January.
    2. Eduardo Duque-Grisales & Javier Aguilera-Caracuel, 2021. "Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Scores and Financial Performance of Multilatinas: Moderating Effects of Geographic International Diversification and Financial Slack," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 168(2), pages 315-334, January.
    3. Sanoran, Kanyarat (Lek), 2023. "Corporate sustainability and sustainable growth: The role of industry sensitivity," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Tsang, Albert & Frost, Tracie & Cao, Huijuan, 2023. "Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) disclosure: A literature review," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(1).
    5. He, Feng & Ding, Cong & Yue, Wei & Liu, Guanchun, 2023. "ESG performance and corporate risk-taking: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    6. Chen, Zhongfei & Xie, Guanxia, 2022. "ESG disclosure and financial performance: Moderating role of ESG investors," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    7. Yoo, Sunbin & Managi, Shunsuke, 2022. "Disclosure or action: Evaluating ESG behavior towards financial performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    8. Zhang, Qin & Wong, Jin Boon, 2022. "ESG reputational risks and board monitoring committees," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    9. Aluchna, Maria & Roszkowska-Menkes, Maria & Kamiński, Bogumił & Bosek-Rak, Dominika, 2022. "Do institutional investors encourage firm to social disclosure? The stakeholder salience perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 674-682.
    10. de Andrés, Pablo & de la Fuente, Gabriel & Velasco, Pilar, 2017. "Does it really matter how a firm diversifies? Assets-in-place diversification versus growth options diversification," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 316-339.
    11. Natalia Semenova & Lars G. Hassel, 2008. "Financial outcomes of environmental risk and opportunity for US companies," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 16(3), pages 195-212.
    12. Akhtaruzzaman, Md & Boubaker, Sabri & Umar, Zaghum, 2022. "COVID–19 media coverage and ESG leader indices," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    13. Gunther Capelle-Blancard & Aurélien Petit, 2019. "Every Little Helps? ESG News and Stock Market Reaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 543-565, June.
    14. Wang, Jiazhen & Hu, Xiaolu & Zhong, Angel, 2023. "Stock market reaction to mandatory ESG disclosure," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    15. Broccardo, Laura & Truant, Elisa & Dana, Léo-Paul, 2023. "The interlink between digitalization, sustainability, and performance: An Italian context," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(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. Bagh, Tanveer & Zhou, Bingjun & Alawi, Suha Mahmoud & Azam, Rauf I, 2024. "ESG resilience: Exploring the non-linear effects of ESG performance on firms sustainable growth," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    2. Ni, Mingjie, 2025. "ESG disclosure and corporate human capital upgrading in China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 49-64.
    3. Dharen Kumar Pandey & Waleed M. Al‐ahdal & Hafiza Aishah Hashim, 2024. "Stock market reaction to mandatory sustainability reporting: Does carbon‐intensity and environmental, social, and governance reputation matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 9116-9140, December.
    4. Ann Susan Thomas & Ambili Jayachandran & Ajithakumari Vijayappan Nair Biju, 2024. "Strategic mapping of the environmental social governance landscape in finance – A bibliometric exploration through concepts and themes," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4428-4453, September.
    5. Liang, Jinma & Zhang, Yicheng & Li, Yuanheng, 2024. "The role of ESG scores in ESG fund performance and institutional investor selection," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    6. Qin Lingda Tan & Sharizal Hashim & Zhangwei Zheng, 2025. "Environmental Social Governance (ESG) in Digitalization research: A bibliometric analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(1), pages 21582440241, January.
    7. An, Hui & Ran, Chenyang & Gao, Ya, 2025. "Does ESG information disclosure increase firm value? The mediation role of financing constraints in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PA).
    8. D'Arcangelis, Anna Maria & Galloppo, Giuseppe & Guida, Roberto & Paimanova, Viktoriia, 2025. "CSR engagement and financial performance: The case of Italian unrated ESG small caps," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    9. Gawęda, Adrian, 2025. "Does environmental, social, and governance performance elevate firm value? International evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    10. Liu, Changyu & Gong, Wanrong & Dong, Guanglong & Ji, Qiang, 2024. "Regulation of environmental, social and governance disclosure greenwashing behaviors considering the risk preference of enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    11. Zhuang, Pengtao & He, Qing & Ju, Wangjing & Xia, Qin, 2025. "How do firms react to ESG news-based sentiment? A corporate risk-taking perspective," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    12. Yuxiang Niu & Yelin Fu & Xinlai Liu & Arjun Rachana Harish & Ming Li & George Q. Huang, 2024. "Blockchain‐based incentive mechanism for environmental, social, and governance disclosure: A principal‐agent perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(6), pages 6318-6334, November.
    13. Buchetti, Bruno & Arduino, Francesca Romana & Perdichizzi, Salvatore, 2025. "A literature review on corporate governance and ESG research: Emerging trends and future directions," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    14. Pruthiranjan Dwibedi & Debasis Pahi & Antarjyami Sahu, 2024. "Mapping the landscape of environmental, social and governance research: A bibliometric analysis," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3745-3767, September.
    15. Chung, Yessica C.Y. & Kunene, Noxolo & Chang, Hung-Hao, 2024. "Renewable energy certificates and firm value: Empirical evidence in Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    16. Tim Heubeck & Annina Ahrens, 2025. "Governing the Responsible Investment of Slack Resources in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance: How Beneficial are CSR Committees?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 198(2), pages 365-385, May.
    17. Tian, Zengrui & Zhu, Bingsheng & Lu, Yuzhong, 2023. "The governance of non-state shareholders and corporate ESG: Empirical evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    18. Natalia Semenova, 2021. "Management control systems in response to social and environmental risk in large Nordic companies," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, December.
    19. Bagh, Tanveer & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Corbet, Shaen, 2025. "The impact of corporate governance on firm value: Understanding the role of strategic change," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    20. Hu, Siyang & Zhang, Chongyan, 2025. "ESG disclosure quality, supply chain resilience, and corporate performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 85(PE).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    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:58:y:2023:i:pc:s1544612323008917. 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.