IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i11p5027-d1668443.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of ESG on Earnings Quality and Real Earnings Management: The Role of Firm Size

Author

Listed:
  • Stylianos Efstratios Vatis

    (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece)

  • George Drogalas

    (Department of Business Administration, University of Macedonia, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Antonios Persakis

    (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece)

  • Evangelos Chytis

    (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Ioannina, 48100 Preveza, Greece)

Abstract

This study examines the impact of ESG on Εarnings Quality (EQ) and Real Earnings Management (REM). Additionally, it investigates the potential role of firm size (FS) in this relationship. Using a fixed-effects multivariate regression analysis on an international sample of 32,050 firm-year observations over the period 2003–2022, we show that ESG enhances EQ and restricts REM. Further analysis confirms our main findings, indicating that the intensity of the positive relationship between ESG and EQ is more pronounced in small firms, while the negative association between ESG and REM is more intense in large firms. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to capture the impact of ESG on both EQ and REM using international evidence, while testing the role of FS. Our findings suggest that EQ and earnings management (EM) can be viewed as a double-edged sword of reporting quality, thus, a more flexible and proactive strategy is needed when considering the material effects of ESG.

Suggested Citation

  • Stylianos Efstratios Vatis & George Drogalas & Antonios Persakis & Evangelos Chytis, 2025. "The Impact of ESG on Earnings Quality and Real Earnings Management: The Role of Firm Size," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-26, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5027-:d:1668443
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5027/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/11/5027/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. François Belot & Stéphanie Serve, 2016. "Earnings quality in private SMES: Do CEO demographic matter?," Post-Print hal-01450998, HAL.
    2. Tingting Zhang & Zhengyi Zhang & Jingyu Yang, 2022. "When Does Corporate Social Responsibility Backfire in Acquisitions? Signal Incongruence and Acquirer Returns," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 45-58, January.
    3. 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.
    4. Sana Masmoudi & Mamoun Ben Salem, 2024. "Reconnecting sustainability reporting with earnings management: empirical evidence from Kuwait," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(3), pages 270-287, June.
    5. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    6. Zixin Zhang & Teck Lee Yap & Jiyoung Park, 2021. "Does voluntary CSR disclosure and CSR performance influence earnings management? Empirical evidence from China," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(2), pages 161-178, June.
    7. 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.
    8. Roychowdhury, Sugata, 2006. "Earnings management through real activities manipulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 335-370, December.
    9. Lee, Michael T. & Raschke, Robyn L. & Krishen, Anjala S., 2023. "Understanding ESG scores and firm performance: Are high-performing firms E, S, and G-balanced?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    10. 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).
    11. Ahmad Yuosef Alodat & Hamzeh Al Amosh & Osamah Alorayni & Saleh F. A. Khatib, 2024. "Does corporate sustainability disclosure mitigate earnings management: empirical evidence from Jordan," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 165-174, March.
    12. Binh Bui & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Mahbub Zaman, 2021. "Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3839-3853, December.
    13. Azmi, Wajahat & Anwer, Zaheer & Mohamad, Shamsher & Shah, Mohamed Eskandar, 2019. "The substitution hypothesis of agency conflicts: Evidence on Shariah compliant equities," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 90-103.
    14. Jennifer Martínez-Ferrero & Shantanu Banerjee & Isabel María García-Sánchez, 2016. "Corporate Social Responsibility as a Strategic Shield Against Costs of Earnings Management Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 133(2), pages 305-324, January.
    15. DasGupta, Ranjan & Roy, Arup, 2023. "Firm environmental, social, governance and financial performance relationship contradictions: Insights from institutional environment mediation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    16. Zabihollah Rezaee & Ling Tuo, 2019. "Are the Quantity and Quality of Sustainability Disclosures Associated with the Innate and Discretionary Earnings Quality?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 155(3), pages 763-786, March.
    17. Sudipta Bose & Chuan Yu, 2023. "Does Earnings Quality Influence Corporate Social Responsibility Performance? Empirical Evidence of the Causal Link," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(2), pages 493-540, June.
    18. Gerald L. Salamon & E. Dan Smith, 1979. "Corporate Control and Managerial Misrepresentation of Firm Performance," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 10(1), pages 319-328, Spring.
    19. Najah Attig & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Jungwon Suh, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Credit Ratings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 679-694, November.
    20. Tesfaye T. Lemma & Mehrzad Azmi Shabestari & Martin Freedman & Mthokozisi Mlilo, 2020. "Corporate carbon risk exposure, voluntary disclosure, and financial reporting quality," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 2130-2143, July.
    21. Guangyou Zhou & Lian Liu & Sumei Luo, 2022. "Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3371-3387, November.
    22. Ali Meftah Gerged & Lara Mohammad Al-Haddad & Meshari O. Al-Hajri, 2020. "Is earnings management associated with corporate environmental disclosure?," Accounting Research Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 33(1), pages 167-185, January.
    23. Dechun Wang, 2006. "Founding Family Ownership and Earnings Quality," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(3), pages 619-656, June.
    24. Lo, Kin, 2008. "Earnings management and earnings quality," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 45(2-3), pages 350-357, August.
    25. François Belot & Stéphanie Serve, 2018. "Earnings Quality in Private SMEs: Do CEO Demographics Matter?," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(S1), pages 323-344, March.
    26. Seok, Junhee & Kim, Yanghee & Oh, Yun Kyung, 2024. "How ESG shapes firm value: The mediating role of customer satisfaction," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 208(C).
    27. Haseeb Ur Rahman & Muhammad Zahid & Parvez Alam Khan & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al‐Faryan & Khaled Hussainey, 2024. "Do corporate sustainability practices mitigate earnings management? The moderating role of firm size," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(6), pages 5423-5444, September.
    28. Azmi, Wajahat & Hassan, M. Kabir & Houston, Reza & Karim, Mohammad Sydul, 2021. "ESG activities and banking performance: International evidence from emerging economies," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    29. Francesco Grimaldi & Alessandra Caragnano & Marianna Zito & Massimo Mariani, 2020. "Sustainability Engagement and Earnings Management: The Italian Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, June.
    30. Bushman, Robert M. & Smith, Abbie J., 2001. "Financial accounting information and corporate governance," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1-3), pages 237-333, December.
    31. Jianqun Xi & He Xiao, 2022. "Relation among corporate environmental disclosure, earnings management and accounting conservatism: evidence from Chinese listed firms," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(5), pages 565-593, April.
    32. repec:eme:maj000:maj-05-2021-3129 is not listed on IDEAS
    33. Nguyen Vinh Khuong & Huynh Thi Ngoc Ly & Le Huu Tuan Anh, 2023. "Accrual-based, real activities earnings management and corporate social responsibility: A virtuous circle? emerging market evidence," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(1), pages 2209955-220, December.
    34. Jeffrey S. Harrison & Douglas A. Bosse & Robert A. Phillips, 2010. "Managing for stakeholders, stakeholder utility functions, and competitive advantage," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 58-74, January.
    35. Siregar, Sylvia Veronica & Utama, Sidharta, 2008. "Type of earnings management and the effect of ownership structure, firm size, and corporate-governance practices: Evidence from Indonesia," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 43(1), pages 1-27, March.
    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. 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.
    2. Binh Bui & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Mahbub Zaman, 2021. "Climate change mitigation: Carbon assurance and reporting integrity," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 3839-3853, December.
    3. Sudipta Bose & Chuan Yu, 2023. "Does Earnings Quality Influence Corporate Social Responsibility Performance? Empirical Evidence of the Causal Link," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(2), pages 493-540, June.
    4. Sunil Kumar & Ashish Sharma & Poornima Mishra & Nikhil Kaushik, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility disclosures and earnings management: a bibliometric analysis," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(1), pages 27-51, March.
    5. Yang Deng & Tze San Ong & Rosmila Senik, 2024. "Trick or treat? A bibliometric literature review of corporate social responsibility and earnings management," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4361-4383, September.
    6. 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.
    7. Elisabete F. Simões Vieira, 2016. "Earnings Management in Public Family Firms under Economic Adversity," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(2), pages 190-207, June.
    8. Liu, Mingzhi & Shi, Yulin & Wilson, Craig & Wu, Zhenyu, 2017. "Does family involvement explain why corporate social responsibility affects earnings management?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 8-16.
    9. Tariq H. Ismail & Yousra R. Obiedallah, 2023. "Does climate risk disclosure shape conservatism? The role of earnings quality in the Egyptian context," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 9(1), pages 1-15, December.
    10. Yuji Shirabe & Makoto Nakano, 2022. "Does Integrated Reporting Affect Real Activities Manipulation?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-27, September.
    11. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Guay, Wayne R. & Weber, Joseph P., 2010. "The role of information and financial reporting in corporate governance and debt contracting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(2-3), pages 179-234, December.
    12. Zixin Zhang & Teck Lee Yap & Jiyoung Park, 2021. "Does voluntary CSR disclosure and CSR performance influence earnings management? Empirical evidence from China," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 18(2), pages 161-178, June.
    13. Ann Kristin Meyer & Andreas Dutzi, 2024. "What Earnings Management Has to Do with Corporate Social Responsibility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-24, March.
    14. Cao, Zhangfan & Rees, William & Zhang, Zhifang, 2023. "The effect of real earnings smoothing on corporate labour investment," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    15. Ali Meftah Gerged & Khaldoon Albitar & Lara Al‐Haddad, 2023. "Corporate environmental disclosure and earnings management—The moderating role of corporate governance structures," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(3), pages 2789-2810, July.
    16. 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.
    17. Eman Fathi Attia & Messaoud Mehafdi, 2023. "The Dynamic Endogeneity Issue between Corporate Ownership Structure and Real-Based Earnings Manipulation in an Emerging Market: Advanced Dynamic Panel Model," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-27, October.
    18. Karima Lajnef & Siwar Ellouz, 2025. "Mediation effect of earnings management techniques on the relationship between CSR and corporate performance: evidence from the civil law countries," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 555-575, June.
    19. Yamina Chouaibi & Ghazi Zouari, 2022. "The effect of corporate social responsibility practices on real earnings management: evidence from a European ESG data," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(1), pages 11-30, March.
    20. 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.

    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:17:y:2025:i:11:p:5027-:d:1668443. 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.