IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2022i1p305-d1014132.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Corporate Sustainability Performance and Firm Value through Investment Efficiency

Author

Listed:
  • Maha Faisal Alsayegh

    (Accounting Department, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Rashidah Abdul Rahman

    (Accounting Department, Faculty of Economics and Administration, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia)

  • Saeid Homayoun

    (Department of Accounting, University of Gavle, SE-801 76 Gavle, Sweden)

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of corporate sustainability performance ( CSP ) on firm value through investment efficiency. By applying a panel regression analysis using a large sample of 26,838 firm-year observations that represent 9218 Asian listed companies over the period of 2012–2019, we illustrate that high corporate sustainability performance ( CSP ) increases investment efficiency. This result coincides with both stakeholder theory and information asymmetry theory where economic, environmental, social, and governance involvements play a fundamental role in improving firm value. Our results further show that the social dimension significantly improves investment decisions, unlike dimensions associated with environment and governance, which show no significant effect on investment efficiency. These insights about the impact of CSP on investment decisions will be useful to stakeholders, decision-makers, policymakers, as well as academics to improve their awareness of the importance of corporate sustainability practices. Particularly, the positive relationship between the social dimension of CSP and investment efficiency should motivate managers to improve their corporate social responsibility policy formation and implementation, and the management of investment portfolios in enhancing firm value.

Suggested Citation

  • Maha Faisal Alsayegh & Rashidah Abdul Rahman & Saeid Homayoun, 2022. "Corporate Sustainability Performance and Firm Value through Investment Efficiency," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:305-:d:1014132
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/305/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/1/305/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Biddle, Gary C. & Hilary, Gilles & Verdi, Rodrigo S., 2009. "How does financial reporting quality relate to investment efficiency?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 48(2-3), pages 112-131, December.
    2. Michael C. Jensen, 2010. "Value Maximization, Stakeholder Theory, and the Corporate Objective Function," Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Morgan Stanley, vol. 22(1), pages 32-42, January.
    3. Akdoğu, Evrim & MacKay, Peter, 2012. "Product markets and corporate investment: Theory and evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 439-453.
    4. Rezaee, Zabihollah, 2016. "Business sustainability research: A theoretical and integrated perspective," Journal of Accounting Literature, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 48-64.
    5. Maha Faisal Alsayegh & Rashidah Abdul Rahman & Saeid Homayoun, 2020. "Corporate Economic, Environmental, and Social Sustainability Performance Transformation through ESG Disclosure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Jensen, Michael C, 1986. "Agency Costs of Free Cash Flow, Corporate Finance, and Takeovers," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 76(2), pages 323-329, May.
    7. Varouj A. Aivazian & Ying Ge & Jiaping Qiu, 2005. "Debt Maturity Structure and Firm Investment," Financial Management, Financial Management Association, vol. 34(4), Winter.
    8. Bouslah, Kais & Kryzanowski, Lawrence & M’Zali, Bouchra, 2013. "The impact of the dimensions of social performance on firm risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 1258-1273.
    9. El Ghoul, Sadok & Guedhami, Omrane & Kwok, Chuck C.Y. & Mishra, Dev R., 2011. "Does corporate social responsibility affect the cost of capital?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(9), pages 2388-2406, September.
    10. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    11. Mohammed Benlemlih & Isabelle Girerd-Potin, 2017. "Corporate social responsibility and firm financial risk reduction: On the moderating role of the legal environment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(7-8), pages 1137-1166, July.
    12. Kim, Yongtae & Li, Haidan & Li, Siqi, 2014. "Corporate social responsibility and stock price crash risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 1-13.
    13. Rehana Anwar & Jaleel A. Malik, 2020. "When Does Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Affect Investment Efficiency? A New Answer to an Old Question," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    14. Christine A. Botosan & Marlene A. Plumlee, 2002. "A Re‐examination of Disclosure Level and the Expected Cost of Equity Capital," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(1), pages 21-40, March.
    15. Liu, Haiyue & Jiang, Jie & Xue, Rui & Meng, Xiaofan & Hu, Shiyang, 2022. "Corporate environmental governance scheme and investment efficiency over the course of COVID-19," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    16. Mohammed Benlemlih & Mohammad Bitar, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 647-671, March.
    17. Hui-Fun Yu & Tsui-Jung Lin & Hai-Yen Chang & Yu-Huai Wang, 2020. "The Impact of Political Connection and Information Asymmetry on Investment Efficiency: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-15, July.
    18. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    19. Mohammed Benlemlih & Mohammad Bitar, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency," Post-Print halshs-01321227, HAL.
    20. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Separation of Ownership and Control," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 301-325, June.
    21. Subhan Ullah & Sardar Ahmad & Saeed Akbar & Devendra Kodwani & Jane Frecknall‐Hughes, 2021. "Governance disclosure quality and market valuation of firms in UK and Germany," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(4), pages 5031-5055, October.
    22. Venkatesh, P C & Chiang, R, 1986. "Information Asymmetry and the Dealer's Bid-Ask Spread: A Case Study of Earnings and Dividend Announcements," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 41(5), pages 1089-1102, December.
    23. Silvia Carnini Pulino & Mirella Ciaburri & Barbara Sveva Magnanelli & Luigi Nasta, 2022. "Does ESG Disclosure Influence Firm Performance?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, June.
    24. Jere R. Francis & Shawn Huang & Inder K. Khurana & Raynolde Pereira, 2009. "Does Corporate Transparency Contribute to Efficient Resource Allocation?," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 47(4), pages 943-989, September.
    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. Saurav Chandra Talukder & Zoltán Lakner & Ágoston Temesi, 2025. "Exploring the Research Landscape of Impact Investing and Sustainable Finance: A Bibliometric Review," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-37, October.
    2. Krzysztof Kluza & Anna Chmielewska, 2025. "Sustainable Corporate Development: Shareholder Value and Environmental, Social and Governance Risk Ratings in Central European Capital Markets," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-20, October.

    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. Bilyay-Erdogan, Seda & Danisman, Gamze Ozturk & Demir, Ender, 2024. "ESG performance and investment efficiency: The impact of information asymmetry," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    2. Chowdhury, Rajib & Doukas, John A. & Park, Jong Chool, 2021. "Stakeholder orientation and the value of cash holdings: Evidence from a natural experiment," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    3. Rehana Anwar & Jaleel A. Malik, 2020. "When Does Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Affect Investment Efficiency? A New Answer to an Old Question," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(2), pages 21582440209, June.
    4. Yu, Chang, 2023. "Board gender diversity and investment inefficiency," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    5. Samet, Marwa & Jarboui, Anis, 2017. "How does corporate social responsibility contribute to investment efficiency?," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 33-46.
    6. Karim Ben Khediri, 2021. "CSR and investment efficiency in Western European countries," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1769-1784, November.
    7. Tao Chen & Shuwen Pi & Qing Sophie Wang, 2025. "Artificial Intelligence and Corporate Investment Efficiency: Evidence from Chinese Listed Companies," Working Papers in Economics 25/05, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    8. He Xiao, 2023. "Institutional investors' corporate site visits and corporate investment efficiency," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(2), pages 359-392, June.
    9. Shi, Jinyan & Yang, Jianheng & Li, Yanxi, 2020. "Does supply network location affect corporate investment efficiency?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    10. Yadong Wang & Khaldoon Albitar & Imad Chbib, 2025. "A Novel Metric for Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Its Impact on Investment Inefficiency," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(3), pages 3003-3030, July.
    11. Jaehong Lee & Eunsoo Kim, 2020. "The Influence of Corporate Environmental Responsibility on Overinvestment Behavior: Evidence from South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, March.
    12. Asiri, Mohammed & Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Taylor, Grantley & Duong, Lien, 2020. "Is corporate tax avoidance associated with investment efficiency?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    13. Mohammed Benlemlih & Mohammad Bitar, 2018. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Investment Efficiency," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 148(3), pages 647-671, March.
    14. Xiaobing LAI & Lei QUAN & Chong GUO & Xing GAO, 2023. "Exploring the Digital Era: Has Digital Technology Innovation Reshaped Investment Efficiency in Chinese Enterprises?," Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series 2302, Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre.
    15. Yadong Wang & Khaldoon Albitar & Imad Chbib, 2024. "Connecting the dots: A systematic review of corporate social responsibility, information asymmetry, and economic implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 5012-5031, September.
    16. Lin, Yu-En & Li, Yi-Wen & Cheng, Teng Yuan & Lam, Keith, 2021. "Corporate social responsibility and investment efficiency: Does business strategy matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Malik, Neha & Kashiramka, Smita, 2025. "“ESG disclosure and its impact on firm leverage: Moderating role of quality of financial reporting and financial constraints”," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    18. Cao, Zhangfan & Rees, William, 2020. "Do employee-friendly firms invest more efficiently? Evidence from labor investment efficiency," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    19. Dutordoir, Marie & Strong, Norman C. & Sun, Ping, 2018. "Corporate social responsibility and seasoned equity offerings," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 158-179.
    20. Arvidsson, Susanne & Eierle, Brigitte & Hartlieb, Sven, 2024. "Job satisfaction and investment efficiency – Evidence from crowdsourced employer reviews," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 266-280.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:305-:d:1014132. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    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.