IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v73y2025ics1544612324016453.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does CEO duality moderate environmental, social, and governance performance-earnings management relationship? Evidence from emerging markets

Author

Listed:
  • Mohapatra, Swati
  • Kumar, Ashish
  • Mohapatra, Malaya Ranjan
  • Srivastava, Vikas

Abstract

Study explores CEO duality's impact on ESG-EM relationship in six emerging markets. Findings reveal that ESG disclosures constraints accrual earnings management; however, high ESG scores lead to higher real earnings management, indicating possible greenwashing behavior. For three pillars of ESG, we find that firms with environmental disclosures constrain EM, while social disclosures tend to enhance EM practices. Study reveals that ESG and its sub-pillars have a curvilinear relationship with EM. CEO duality moderates ESG-EM to provide a cushion for potential greenwashing. ESG impact is not limited to EM; consequently, it affects the firms’ market performance by mediating real earnings management.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohapatra, Swati & Kumar, Ashish & Mohapatra, Malaya Ranjan & Srivastava, Vikas, 2025. "Does CEO duality moderate environmental, social, and governance performance-earnings management relationship? Evidence from emerging markets," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016453
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106616
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324016453
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106616?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. Dirk Brounen & Gianluca Marcato & Hans Op ’t Veld, 2021. "Pricing ESG Equity Ratings and Underlying Data in Listed Real Estate Securities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Fatemi, Ali & Glaum, Martin & Kaiser, Stefanie, 2018. "ESG performance and firm value: The moderating role of disclosure," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 45-64.
    3. Valeria D’Amato & Rita D’Ecclesia & Susanna Levantesi, 2021. "Fundamental ratios as predictors of ESG scores: a machine learning approach," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 44(2), pages 1087-1110, December.
    4. Vanessa M Strike & Jijun Gao & Pratima Bansal, 2006. "Being good while being bad: social responsibility and the international diversification of US firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 37(6), pages 850-862, November.
    5. Gupta, Gaurav, 2023. "Geopolitical risk and investment-cash flow sensitivity: An empirical analysis for Indian business group-affiliated firms and non-business group-affiliated firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    6. Bert Scholtens & Feng‐Ching Kang, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management: Evidence from Asian Economies," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 95-112, March.
    7. Shin, Jiyoung & Moon, Jon Jungbien & Kang, Jingoo, 2023. "Where does ESG pay? The role of national culture in moderating the relationship between ESG performance and financial performance," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3).
    8. Marina Brogi & Valentina Lagasio, 2019. "Environmental, social, and governance and company profitability: Are financial intermediaries different?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 576-587, May.
    9. Jun Xie & Wataru Nozawa & Michiyuki Yagi & Hidemichi Fujii & Shunsuke Managi, 2019. "Do environmental, social, and governance activities improve corporate financial performance?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 286-300, February.
    10. Xiao, Xiang & Ge, Ge & Yu, Ziqin, 2024. "Inhibition or inducement: ESG rating changes and earnings management – Based on the perspective of external supervision," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    11. Shakil, Mohammad Hassan, 2024. "Environmental, social and governance controversies: A bibliometric review and research agenda," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    12. Oren Mooneeapen & Subhash Abhayawansa & Naushad Mamode Khan, 2022. "The influence of the country governance environment on corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 953-985, May.
    13. Khan, Muhammad Arif, 2022. "ESG disclosure and Firm performance: A bibliometric and meta analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    14. Duru, Augustine & Iyengar, Raghavan J. & Zampelli, Ernest M., 2016. "The dynamic relationship between CEO duality and firm performance: The moderating role of board independence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(10), pages 4269-4277.
    15. Jyoti Dua & Anil Kumar Sharma, 2024. "Corporate Sustainability and Capital Costs: A Panel Evidence from BRICS Countries," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 17(1), pages 77-101, June.
    16. Ann-Kristin Achleitner & Nina G�nther & Christoph Kaserer & Gianfranco Siciliano, 2014. "Real Earnings Management and Accrual-based Earnings Management in Family Firms," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 431-461, September.
    17. Diego Prior & Jordi Surroca & Josep A. Tribó, 2008. "Are Socially Responsible Managers Really Ethical? Exploring the Relationship Between Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(3), pages 160-177, May.
    18. Ghafoor, Abdul & Gull, Ammar Ali, 2024. "Do co-opted boards protect CEOs from ESG controversies?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    19. Roychowdhury, Sugata, 2006. "Earnings management through real activities manipulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 335-370, December.
    20. Mehdi Nekhili & Héla Chakroun & Tawhid Chtioui, 2018. "Women’s Leadership and Firm Performance: Family Versus Nonfamily Firms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 291-316, December.
    21. Sun, Weizheng & Chen, Shuning & Jiao, Yuqing & Feng, Xu, 2024. "How does ESG constrain corporate earnings management? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    22. Ryan Krause, 2017. "Being the CEO's boss: An examination of board chair orientations," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(3), pages 697-713, March.
    23. Aljughaiman, Abdullah A. & Barrak, Thamir Al & Chebbi, Kaouther, 2024. "Does sovereign ESG shape corporate cash management in emerging markets?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    24. Xue Wang & Feng Cao & Kangtao Ye, 2018. "Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Reporting and Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from a Quasi-Natural Experiment," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 152(1), pages 253-274, September.
    25. Griffin, Paul A. & Hong, Hyun A. & Liu, Yun & Ryou, Ji Woo, 2021. "The dark side of CEO social capital: Evidence from real earnings management and future operating performance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    26. Liu, Baohua & Lin, Yan & Chan, Kam C. & Fung, Hung-Gay, 2018. "The dark side of rent-seeking: The impact of rent-seeking on earnings management," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 94-107.
    27. Chi‐Yih Yang & Hung‐Neng Lai & Boon Leing Tan, 2008. "Managerial Ownership Structure and Earnings Management," Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(1), pages 35-53, January.
    28. Patrick Velte, 2021. "Environmental performance, carbon performance and earnings management: Empirical evidence for the European capital market," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(1), pages 42-53, January.
    29. Wu Ning & Ummar Faruk Saeed & Angelina Kissiwaa Twum & Abednego Osei, 2024. "Can ESG disclosures promote firms going concern? Evidence from BRICS countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3792-3803, September.
    30. Ben Lahouel, Béchir & Bruna, Maria-Giuseppina & Ben Zaied, Younes, 2020. "The curvilinear relationship between environmental performance and financial performance: An investigation of listed french firms using panel smooth transition model," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    31. Chi‐Yih Yang & Hung‐Neng Lai & Boon Leing Tan, 2008. "Managerial Ownership Structure and Earnings Management," Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(1), pages 35-53, January.
    32. Khenissi, Mohamed & Hamrouni, Amal & Farhat, Nadia Ben, 2022. "Executive compensation indexed to corporate social responsibility and firm performance: Empirical evidence from France," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    33. Paola Fandella & Bruno S. Sergi & Emiliano Sironi, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility performance and the cost of capital in BRICS countries. The problem of selectivity using environmental, social and governance scores," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(4), pages 1712-1722, July.
    34. Halbritter, Gerhard & Dorfleitner, Gregor, 2015. "The wages of social responsibility — where are they? A critical review of ESG investing," Review of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 25-35.
    35. Olaf Stotz, 2021. "Expected and realized returns on stocks with high- and low-ESG exposure," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 133-150, March.
    36. Chen, Zhongfei & Xie, Guanxia, 2022. "ESG disclosure and financial performance: Moderating role of ESG investors," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    37. Ali, Ashiq & Zhang, Weining, 2015. "CEO tenure and earnings management," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 60-79.
    38. repec:hal:journl:hal-02311932 is not listed on IDEAS
    39. Li, Yuanhui & Li, Xiao & Xiang, Erwei & Geri Djajadikerta, Hadrian, 2020. "Financial distress, internal control, and earnings management: Evidence from China," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    40. Oren Mooneeapen & Subhash Abhayawansa & Naushad Mamode Khan, 2022. "The influence of the country governance environment on corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance," Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 953-985, May.
    41. Mohamed Khenissi & Amal Hamrouni & Nadia Ben Farhat Toumi, 2022. "Executive compensation indexed to corporate social responsibility and firm performance: empirical evidence from France," Post-Print hal-03771680, HAL.
    42. Faleye, Olubunmi, 2007. "Classified boards, firm value, and managerial entrenchment," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(2), pages 501-529, February.
    43. Rajan, Raghuram G & Zingales, Luigi, 1995. "What Do We Know about Capital Structure? Some Evidence from International Data," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1421-1460, December.
    44. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Li, Peigong & Bansal, Shashank & Kumar, Satish, 2023. "A new insight on CEO characteristics and corporate social responsibility (CSR): A meta-analytical review," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    45. Kolk, Ans & van Tulder, Rob, 2010. "International business, corporate social responsibility and sustainable development," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 119-125, April.
    46. Liu, Changyu & Wang, Jing & Ji, Qiang & Zhang, Dayong, 2024. "To be green or not to be: How governmental regulation shapes financial institutions' greenwashing behaviors in green finance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    47. Manish Bansal & Asgar Ali & Bhawna Choudhary, 2021. "Real earnings management and stock returns: moderating role of cross-sectional effects," Asian Journal of Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(3), pages 266-280, January.
    48. Kothari, S.P. & Leone, Andrew J. & Wasley, Charles E., 2005. "Performance matched discretionary accrual measures," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 163-197, February.
    49. Tang, Jianyun, 2017. "CEO duality and firm performance: The moderating roles of other executives and blockholding outside directors," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 362-372.
    50. Chi-Wei Su & Yannong Xie & Sadaf Shahab & Ch. Muhammad Nadeem Faisal & Muhammad Hafeez & Ghulam Muhammad Qamri, 2021. "Towards Achieving Sustainable Development: Role of Technology Innovation, Technology Adoption and CO 2 Emission for BRICS," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-13, January.
    51. Bhaskar, Ratikant & Bansal, Shashank & Pandey, Dharen Kumar, 2024. "CEO duality and corporate social responsibility: A moderation effect of founder CEO," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    52. Xiang, Jiafeng & Sheng, Zhiyun, 2024. "Relative strength of business groups and the value-relevance of earnings for group-affiliated companies," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    53. Pathak, Rajesh & Gupta, Ranjan Das, 2022. "Environmental, social and governance performance and earnings management – The moderating role of law code and creditor's rights," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
    54. Yu, Fang (Frank), 2008. "Analyst coverage and earnings management," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 245-271, May.
    55. Eliwa, Yasser & Aboud, Ahmed & Saleh, Ahmed, 2021. "ESG practices and the cost of debt: Evidence from EU countries," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    56. Gerhard Halbritter & Gregor Dorfleitner, 2015. "The wages of social responsibility — where are they? A critical review of ESG investing," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 25-35, September.
    57. Zhang, Chunqiang & Hao, Dayu & Gao, Lu & Xia, Fan & Zhang, Linlang, 2024. "Do ESG ratings improve capital market trading activities?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 195-210.
    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. Sun, Weizheng & Chen, Shuning & Jiao, Yuqing & Feng, Xu, 2024. "How does ESG constrain corporate earnings management? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    2. Riaqa Mubeen & Dongping Han & Jaffar Abbas & Iftikhar Hussain, 2020. "The Effects of Market Competition, Capital Structure, and CEO Duality on Firm Performance: A Mediation Analysis by Incorporating the GMM Model Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Rasmi Meqbel & Mohammad Alta'any & Salah Kayed & Ahmed Al‐Omush, 2024. "Earnings management and sustainability assurance: The moderating role of CSR committee," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1769-1785, May.
    4. Giovanna Gavana & Pietro Gottardo & Anna Maria Moisello, 2022. "Related Party Transactions and Earnings Management: The Moderating Effect of ESG Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Li, Na & Shi, Guifeng & Guo, Ping & Wu, Yanqin & Zhuo, Weijia, 2025. "Does mandatory operating information disclosure affect corporate earnings management? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 768-790.
    6. 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).
    7. Wadhaah Ibrahim Almubarak & Kaouther Chebbi & Mohammed Abdullah Ammer, 2023. "Unveiling the Connection among ESG, Earnings Management, and Financial Distress: Insights from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Haijing Liu & Hyunah Lee, 2024. "The Role of Ownership Structure in the Relationship Between Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices and Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Alexandre Garel & Jose Martin-Flores & Arthur Petit-Romec & Ayesha Scott, 2021. "Institutional investor distraction and earnings management," Post-Print hal-03096196, HAL.
    10. Liu, Chengyun & Su, Kun & Zhang, Miaomiao, 2021. "Water disclosure and financial reporting quality for social changes: Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    11. Mounia Boulhaga & Abdelfettah Bouri & Hany Elbardan, 2022. "The effect of internal control quality on real and accrual-based earnings management: evidence from France," Journal of Management Control: Zeitschrift für Planung und Unternehmenssteuerung, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 545-567, December.
    12. Habiba Al‐Shaer, 2020. "Sustainability reporting quality and post‐audit financial reporting quality: Empirical evidence from the UK," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 2355-2373, September.
    13. Hoang, Thi Hong Van & Pham, Linh & Nguyen, Thanh Thi Phuong, 2023. "Does country sustainability improve firm ESG reporting transparency? The moderating role of firm industry and CSR engagement," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    14. Yusuf Babatunde Adeneye & Setareh Fasihi & Ines Kammoun & Khaldoon Albitar, 2024. "Does earnings management constrain ESG performance? The role of corporate governance," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 69-92, March.
    15. Gawęda, Adrian, 2025. "Does environmental, social, and governance performance elevate firm value? International evidence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    16. Manu Abraham, 2024. "Shariah compliance and earnings management in India: Insights on reporting transparency and financial stability," Modern Finance, Modern Finance Institute, vol. 2(1), pages 145-165.
    17. Tiago Gonçalves & Cristina Gaio & André Ferro, 2021. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Management: Moderating Impact of Economic Cycles and Financial Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-14, September.
    18. Xiao, Xiang & Ge, Ge & Yu, Ziqin, 2024. "Inhibition or inducement: ESG rating changes and earnings management – Based on the perspective of external supervision," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    19. H M Arif & Mohd Zulkhairi Mustapha & Azlina Abdul Jalil, 2023. "Do powerful CEOs matter for earnings quality? Evidence from Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 18(1), pages 1-28, January.
    20. Tran, Viet, 2025. "Climate policy uncertainty and earnings management," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

    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:73:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324016453. 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.