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ESG Controversies and Firm Investment Efficiency: Impact and Mechanism Examination

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  • Shijin Ma

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China)

  • Tao Ma

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
    Shanghai Key Laboratory of Policy Simulation and Assessment for Ecology and Environment Governance, Shanghai 200433, China)

Abstract

In the context of increasingly severe global climate change, both companies and investors are placing greater emphasis on investment philosophies centered around environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance (ESG). This paper, based on data from 847 Chinese A-share listed companies over the period 2007–2022, employs a two-way fixed effects model to investigate the relationship between ESG controversies and firm investment efficiency. The results indicate that ESG controversies significantly reduce overall firm investment efficiency. Further analysis reveals that ESG controversies affect investment efficiency by exacerbating agency costs and reducing audit quality. Meanwhile, financing constraints and robust internal control quality mitigate these negative effects. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact is more pronounced for firms with higher pollution levels, non-state-owned enterprises, those with higher analyst coverage, and firms with lower levels of digitalization. The findings have significant implications for encouraging companies to fulfill their social responsibilities and promote high-quality economic development.

Suggested Citation

  • Shijin Ma & Tao Ma, 2025. "ESG Controversies and Firm Investment Efficiency: Impact and Mechanism Examination," Risks, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-24, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jrisks:v:13:y:2025:i:4:p:67-:d:1625364
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simona Galletta & Sebastiano Mazzù, 2023. "ESG controversies and bank risk taking," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 274-288, January.
    2. Wang, Juxian & Ma, Mengdi & Dong, Tianyi & Zhang, Zheyuan, 2023. "Do ESG ratings promote corporate green innovation? A quasi-natural experiment based on SynTao Green Finance's ESG ratings," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Sami Adwan & M. Mostak Ahamed, 2025. "Employee ownership and corporate investment efficiency in Europe," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 191-236, January.
    4. Gregor Dorfleitner & Christian Kreuzer & Christian Sparrer, 2020. "ESG controversies and controversial ESG: about silent saints and small sinners," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(5), pages 393-412, September.
    5. Di, Ran & Li, Changqing, 2023. "The cost of hypocrisy: Does corporate ESG decoupling reduce labor investment efficiency?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).
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