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How do property rights affect corporate ESG performance? The moderating effect of green innovation efficiency

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  • Chen, Chaofan
  • Li, Wen-Bo
  • Zhang, Heng

Abstract

Data from China's A-share listed companies indicates that property rights (PR) significantly influence Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, with state-owned enterprises (SOEs) outperforming non-SOEs. The state-owned shareholding ratio (SSR) does not linearly correlate with higher ESG performance. Instead, a non-linear threshold effect is observed, and maintaining SSR below 42 % significantly enhances ESG performance. Additionally, green innovation efficiency (GIE) moderates the impact of PR on ESG performance, and the increase in GIE exacerbates the disparity in ESG performance between SOEs and non-SOEs. Compared to the efficiency of applying green tech achievements, green tech R&D efficiency has a more pronounced moderating effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Chaofan & Li, Wen-Bo & Zhang, Heng, 2024. "How do property rights affect corporate ESG performance? The moderating effect of green innovation efficiency," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:64:y:2024:i:c:s1544612324005063
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.105476
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    1. Liu, Weiyong & Liu, Weiwen, 2025. "Green financial instruments: Economic, technological, and legal cycles in the development of the energy transition period," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Property rights; ESG performance; State-owned shareholding ratio; Green innovation efficiency; Three-stage DEA-SBM model;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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