IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v58y2023ipds1544612323010644.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Enterprise digital transformation and ESG performance

Author

Listed:
  • Cai, Cen
  • Tu, Yongqian
  • Li, Zhi

Abstract

This paper selects A-share listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen from 2012 to 2022 as a sample to explore the relationship between corporate digital transformation and corporate ESG performance. It is found that enterprises carrying out digital transformation can significantly improve corporate ESG performance; corporate digital transformation can alleviate corporate financing constraints, increase analysts' attention, and improve corporate ESG performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Cai, Cen & Tu, Yongqian & Li, Zhi, 2023. "Enterprise digital transformation and ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:58:y:2023:i:pd:s1544612323010644
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104692
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612323010644
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104692?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. Louis T. W. Cheng & Piyush Sharma & David C. Broadstock, 2023. "Interactive effects of brand reputation and ESG on green bond issues: A sustainable development perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 570-586, January.
    2. Li, Chao & Ba, Shusong & Ma, Kejia & Xu, Yueling & Huang, Wenli & Huang, Niyuan, 2023. "ESG Rating Events, Financial Investment Behavior and Corporate Innovation," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 372-387.
    3. Hao, Xiaoli & Wen, Shufang & Li, Ke & Wu, Junwei & Wu, Haitao & Hao, Yu, 2023. "Environmental governance, executive incentive, and enterprise performance: Evidence from Chinese mineral enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PA).
    4. Fang, Mingyue & Nie, Huihua & Shen, Xinyi, 2023. "Can enterprise digitization improve ESG performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Alkaraan, Fadi & Albitar, Khaldoon & Hussainey, Khaled & Venkatesh, VG, 2022. "Corporate transformation toward Industry 4.0 and financial performance: The influence of environmental, social, and governance (ESG)," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    6. Guangyou Zhou & Lian Liu & Sumei Luo, 2022. "Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3371-3387, November.
    7. Shu, Hao & Tan, Weiqiang, 2023. "Does carbon control policy risk affect corporate ESG performance?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    8. Ren, Xiaohang & Zeng, Gudian & Zhao, Yang, 2023. "Digital finance and corporate ESG performance: Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    9. Liu, Shasha & Zhao, Huixian & Kong, Gaowen, 2023. "Enterprise digital transformation, breadth of ownership and stock price volatility," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    10. Domenico Rocco Cambrea & Francesco Paolone & Nicola Cucari, 2023. "Advisory or monitoring role in ESG scenario: Which women directors are more influential in the Italian context?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(7), pages 4299-4314, November.
    11. Luo, Chunhua & Wei, Dianlong & He, Feng, 2023. "Corporate ESG performance and trade credit financing – Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 337-351.
    12. Sheehan, Norman T. & Vaidyanathan, Ganesh & Fox, Kenneth A. & Klassen, Mark, 2023. "Making the invisible, visible: Overcoming barriers to ESG performance with an ESG mindset," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 66(2), pages 265-276.
    13. Hu, Jianxiong & Zou, Qing & Yin, Qianqian, 2023. "Research on the effect of ESG performance on stock price synchronicity: Empirical evidence from China's capital markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hai Huang & Shengbin Hao, 2025. "Enterprise digital transformation and sustainable development performance: The asymmetric roles of top management team faultlines," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 1670-1685, April.
    2. Liu, Fuzhen & He, Chaocheng & Lai, Kee-hung, 2024. "Incorporating resource responsibility into production and logistics management: An empirical investigation," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    3. Zijian Cheng & He Gao & Zhangxin ( Frank) Liu & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2024. "Strategic choices in going public: ESG performance implications in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(8), pages 7708-7728, December.
    4. Levente Péter Bálint & László Várallyai & Szilvia Botos, 2025. "Evaluation of Data-Driven Sustainability Potential at SMEs Using an Altered Ecocanvas Model," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-25, February.
    5. Cao, June & Huang, Zijie & Kristanto, Ari Budi, 2025. "From bytes to blooms: Tech-driven transformation and green revenues," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    6. Tu, Zhengge & Cao, Yu & Goh, Mark & Wang, Yujia, 2024. "Executive green cognition and corporate ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 69(PB).
    7. Siqian Chen & Xin Leng & Kun Luo, 2024. "Supply chain digitalization and corporate ESG performance," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 83(4), pages 855-881, September.
    8. Jun, Xiao & Ai, Junwei & Zheng, Lingfeng & Lu, Meiting & Wang, Jianye, 2024. "Impact of information technology and industrial development on corporate ESG practices: Evidence from a pilot program in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    9. Song, Changhao & Han, Minchun & Yuan, Hankun, 2025. "The impact of digital transformation on firm productivity: From the perspective of sustainable development," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    10. Zhang, Cheng & Fang, Jiming & Ge, Shilong & Sun, Guanglin, 2024. "Research on the impact of enterprise digital transformation on carbon emissions in the manufacturing industry," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 211-227.
    11. Zhang, Chuan & Wang, Yueyun, 2024. "Are ESG scores affected by the quality of non-financial disclosures?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 1431-1458.
    12. Li, Yiping & Zheng, Lanxing & Xie, Chang & Fang, Jiming, 2024. "Big data development and enterprise ESG performance: Empirical evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PB), pages 742-755.
    13. Chen, Xi & Wang, Qinggang & Wang, Shuai, 2025. "Enterprise digital transformation and bank credit loans—Empirical evidence from listed companies in China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    14. Liu, Yang & Dong, Kangyin & Nepal, Rabindra & Afi, Hatem, 2025. "How do climate risks affect corporate ESG performance? Micro evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    15. Xu, Jian & Yin, Jian, 2025. "Digital transformation and ESG performance: The chain mediating role of technological innovation and financing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    16. Meidiana AZZAHRAH & Ariodillah HIDAYAT & Liliana LILIANA, 2024. "The relationship of digital payments, macroeconomic variables, and banking stability in developing Asia," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania / Editura Economica, vol. 0(4(641), W), pages 67-84, Winter.
    17. Zhang, Yanan & Zhang, Xiaoyu, 2024. "Top management team functional diversity and ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    18. Zhao, Zeru, 2024. "Digital Transformation and Enterprise Risk-Taking," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
    19. Yang, Jinxuan & Hui, Ning, 2024. "How digital finance affects the sustainability of corporate green innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).

    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. Chao Wang & Jiapeng Li & Yang Yi & Shuwang Yang, 2024. "Crowding in or crowding out? Executive environmental attention and ESG performance of mining listed companies," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 37(4), pages 897-913, December.
    2. Wang, Xiaoteng & Zhou, Bole & Li, Xiaoling, 2025. "Qualified foreign institutional investors and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    3. Peng, Shengnan & Liu, Chan & Wang, Ze & Ye, Zihan & Sun, Xialing & Tan, Zhanglu, 2024. "The impact of the carbon reduction policy effectiveness on energy companies' ESG performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    4. Yuan Feng & Changfei Nie, 2024. "Digital technology innovation and corporate environmental, social, and governance performance: Evidence from a sample of listed firms in China," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3836-3854, September.
    5. Zhan, Huawang & Shen, Huayu & Guo, Hui, 2025. "Research on the impact of ESG scores on corporate substantive and strategic green innovation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(1).
    6. Fangjun Wang & Xinmiao Zhou & Tian Gan, 2024. "Can green funds improve corporate environmental, social, and governance performance? Evidence from Chinese-listed companies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(3), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Cai, Cen & Li, Yijia & Tu, Yongqian, 2024. "Big data capabilities, ESG performance and corporate value," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PA).
    8. Qiao, Penghua & Zhao, Yuying & Fung, Anna & Fung, Hung-Gay, 2025. "How digital leadership guides ESG sustainability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(PB).
    9. Chen, Yongtai & Ren, Yi-Shuai & Narayan, Seema & Huynh, Ngoc Quang Anh, 2024. "Does climate risk impact firms' ESG performance? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 683-695.
    10. Xiaowen He & Weinien Chen, 2024. "Digital Transformation and Environmental, Social, and Governance Performance from a Human Capital Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-21, June.
    11. Marie, Mohamed & Qi, Baolei & Elgammal, Mohammed & Elnahass, Marwa, 2024. "A more sustainable future: Can politically connected CEOs spur the nexus between ESG performance and firm financial performance?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    12. Li, Junjun & Wu, Tong & Liu, Bailu & Zhou, Ming, 2024. "Can digital transformation enhance corporate ESG performance? The moderating role of dual environmental regulations," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    13. Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Abbassi, Wajih & Chen, Yifan & Chen, Lifeng, 2024. "Outward foreign investment performance, digital transformation, and ESG performance: Evidence from China," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    14. Li, Yuxuan & Zheng, Yingxue & Li, Xuesong & Mu, Zi, 2024. "The impact of digital transformation on ESG performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    15. Binbin Yang & Sang Do Park, 2024. "Under the ESG Dome of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-23, August.
    16. Hao, Xiaoli & Sun, Qingyu & Li, Ke & Li, Peilun & Wu, Haitao, 2024. "Does environmental decentralisation improve ESG performance? Evidence from listed companies in China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    17. Wang, Xiaolin & Ye, Yingying, 2024. "Environmental protection tax and firms’ ESG investment: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    18. Wang, Muyun & Zhang, Ying, 2024. "Controlling shareholders' equity pledge, litigation risk and corporate ESG performance," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    19. Ji, Qiang & Nie, Song, 2024. "How does local government fiscal pressure affect corporate ESG performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    20. Hao, Yun & Wu, Wenzhao, 2024. "Environment, social, and governance performance and corporate financing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).

    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:pd:s1544612323010644. 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.