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ESG Controversies: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis for the Sociopolitical Determinants in EU Firms

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  • Ioannis Passas

    (Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Hellenic Mediterranean University, GR71410 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Konstantina Ragazou

    (Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Hellenic Mediterranean University, GR71410 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Eleni Zafeiriou

    (Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, GR68200 Orestiada, Greece)

  • Alexandros Garefalakis

    (Department of Business Administration and Tourism, Hellenic Mediterranean University, GR71410 Heraklion, Greece)

  • Constantin Zopounidis

    (School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, GR73100 Chania, Greece
    School of Management, Audencia Business School, 44300 Nantes, France)

Abstract

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria are novel and exciting tools of corporate disclosure for decision making. Using quantitative and qualitative analyses, the present study examined the key characteristics and trends of ESG controversies in the European market. At the same time, it identified the controversies’ determinants. A bibliometric analysis was the qualitative method employed on the data derived from Scopus using Biblioshiny software, an R package. The quantitative analysis involved an international sample of 2278 companies headquartered in Europe from 2017–2019 being studied using a Generalized Linear Model. The findings of this research highlighted the role of the “S” and the “G” dimensions of the ESG controversies as the most crucial in affecting controversies. Women are under-represented in the business hierarchy, but their natural characteristics such as friendliness and peaceability lead to a low level of illegal business practices. However, independent of gender, executives have personal gains that they want to satisfy. Thus, executives may become involved in unethical practices and harm their colleagues and the business’s reputation. On the other hand, democracy emerged as one of the most disputed factors. Democracy gives people the voice to express themselves and publicly support their ideas without restrictions. Although, the regression results showed that democracy is not always operated as the “pipe of peace” and can affect, to some extent, controversies.

Suggested Citation

  • Ioannis Passas & Konstantina Ragazou & Eleni Zafeiriou & Alexandros Garefalakis & Constantin Zopounidis, 2022. "ESG Controversies: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis for the Sociopolitical Determinants in EU Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:19:p:12879-:d:937228
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    2. Yundan Guo & Li Shen, 2023. "Commercial Retirement FOFs in China: Investment and Persistence Performance Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-22, September.

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