IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spt/fininv/v14y2025i3f14_3_1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Environmental, Social, and Governance and expenses of insurance companies

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Bressan

Abstract

The study explores the relationship between the expenses of insurance companies and their ESG performance. It analyses with panel data models a large sample of property and casualty (PC) insurers worldwide over the 2013-24 period. The results reveal that companies with strong ESG profiles benefit from lower underwriting, operating, and interest expenses. Moreover, alternative measures for the company expense ratio decrease as ESG scores improve. These effects are significant across all three ESG pillars, with the governance dimension having a slightly stronger impact. These findings suggest that ESG is a strategically important factor for efficient cost management in insurance companies, with potential implications for insurance availability and economic development. The research offers insights into ESG effects on the management of insurance companies, a domain that has not been extensively studied by the recent literature but has been closely monitored by managers and policy makers. Â JEL classification numbers: G22, G30.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Bressan, 2025. "Environmental, Social, and Governance and expenses of insurance companies," Journal of Finance and Investment Analysis, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 14(3), pages 1-1.
  • Handle: RePEc:spt:fininv:v:14:y:2025:i:3:f:14_3_1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.scienpress.com/Upload/JFIA%2fVol%2014_3_1.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marina Brogi & Antonella Cappiello & Valentina Lagasio & Fabrizio Santoboni, 2022. "Determinants of insurance companies' environmental, social, and governance awareness," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1357-1369, September.
    2. Casper Christophersen & Petr Jakubik, 2014. "Insurance and the Macroeconomic Environment," EIOPA Financial Stability Report - Thematic Articles 1, EIOPA, Risks and Financial Stability Department.
    3. Stefano Nobili & Mattia Persico & Rosario Romeo, 2024. "How Important Are Esg Factors For Banks’ Cost Of Debt? An Empirical Investigation," Mercati, infrastrutture, sistemi di pagamento (Markets, Infrastructures, Payment Systems) 52, Bank of Italy, Directorate General for Markets and Payment System.
    4. Massimiliano Maggioni & Giuseppe Turchetti, 2024. "Performance Indicators in the Insurance Business," Springer Texts in Business and Economics, in: Fundamentals of the Insurance Business, chapter 34, pages 737-751, Springer.
    5. Kong, Wen, 2023. "The impact of ESG performance on debt financing costs: Evidence from Chinese family business," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).
    6. Florian Berg & Julian F Kölbel & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings [Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1315-1344.
    7. Di Tommaso, Caterina & Mazzuca, Maria, 2023. "The stock price of European insurance companies: What is the role of ESG factors?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    8. Apergis, Nicholas & Poufinas, Thomas, 2020. "The role of insurance growth in economic growth: Fresh evidence from a panel of OECD countries," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    9. Agnese, Paolo & Giacomini, Emanuela, 2023. "Bank's funding costs: Do ESG factors really matter?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    10. Apergis, Nicholas & Poufinas, Thomas & Antonopoulos, Alexandros, 2022. "ESG scores and cost of debt," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    11. Matthias Breuer & Ed Dehaan, 2024. "Using and Interpreting Fixed Effects Models," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 62(4), pages 1183-1226, September.
    12. Christoph Kaserer & Christian Klein, 2019. "Systemic Risk in Financial Markets: How Systemically Important Are Insurers?," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 86(3), pages 729-759, September.
    13. repec:bdi:wptemi:mip_052_24 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Catherine Bobtcheff & Thomas Chaney & Christian Gollier, 2016. "Analysis of Systemic Risk in the Insurance Industry," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 41(1), pages 73-106, March.
    15. Gigante, Gimede & Manglaviti, Davide, 2022. "The ESG effect on the cost of debt financing: A sharp RD analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    16. Tiago Cruz Gonçalves & João Dias & Victor Barros, 2022. "Sustainability Performance and the Cost of Capital," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-32, August.
    17. Nicola Raimo & Alessandra Caragnano & Marianna Zito & Filippo Vitolla & Massimo Mariani, 2021. "Extending the benefits of ESG disclosure: The effect on the cost of debt financing," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1412-1421, July.
    18. Silvia Bressan, 2023. "Effects from ESG Scores on P&C Insurance Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-15, August.
    19. Silvia Bressan, 2023. "Reinsurance and Sustainability: Evidence from International Insurers," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(6), pages 1-8.
    20. You, Xianghua & Chen, Can & Peng, Ke & Li, Yubin, 2025. "ESG disclosure quality and cost of debt," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    21. Baek, Seungho & Kang, Moonsoo, 2025. "Does ESG enhance asset quality and funding cost management in banking diversification?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    22. 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).
    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. Andrieș, Alin Marius & Sprincean, Nicu, 2023. "ESG performance and banks’ funding costs," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    2. Cheng, Yuhao & He, Chuqian & Tang, Can, 2025. "The impact of ESG performance on corporate debt costs: A signaling perspective," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    3. Li, WeiWei & Padmanabhan, Prasad & Huang, Chia-Hsing, 2024. "ESG and debt structure: Is the nature of this relationship nonlinear?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    4. Wang, Haijun & Jiao, Shuaipeng & Ge, Chen & Sun, Guanglin, 2024. "Corporate ESG rating divergence and excess stock returns," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    5. Tan, Xiujie & Liu, Gufeng & Cheng, Si, 2024. "How does ESG performance affect green transformation of resource-based enterprises: Evidence from Chinese listed enterprises," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    6. Fiordelisi, Franco & Ricci, Ornella & Santilli, Gianluca, 2023. "Environmental engagement and stock price crash risk: Evidence from the European banking industry," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    7. Alves, Carlos Francisco & Meneses, Lilian Lima, 2024. "ESG scores and debt costs: Exploring indebtedness, agency costs, and financial system impact," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    8. Vilija Aleknevièiene & Sandra Stralkute, 2023. "Impact of corporate social responsibility on cost of debt in Scandinavian public companies," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 14(2), pages 585-608, June.
    9. Caterina Lucarelli & Sabrina Severini, 2024. "Anatomy of the chimera: Environmental, Social, and Governance ratings beyond the myth," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4198-4217, July.
    10. Giovanni Baldissarro & Maria Elena Bruni & Gianpaolo Iazzolino & Donato Morea & Stefania Veltri, 2024. "Does It Pay Off to Integrate ESG Performance into Bank Investment Portfolio Selection? Empirical Evidence in the European Energy Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, December.
    11. Cantero-Saiz, María & Polizzi, Salvatore & Scannella, Enzo, 2024. "ESG and asset quality in the banking industry: The moderating role of financial performance," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    12. Manos, Ronny & Finger, Maya & Boukai, Haim, 2024. "Self-regulation for responsible banking and ESG disclosure scores: Is there a link?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    13. Muck, Matthias & Schmidl, Thomas, 2024. "Comparing ESG score weighting approaches and stock performance differentiation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 67(PB).
    14. Deng, Xiang & Li, Weihao & Ren, Xiaohang, 2023. "More sustainable, more productive: Evidence from ESG ratings and total factor productivity among listed Chinese firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    15. Feng, Ruonan & Ma, Lu & Wu, Dan, 2025. "ESG performance and corporate innovation under the moderating effect of firm size," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    16. Seyed Alireza Athari & Chafic Saliba & Elsa Abboud & Nourhan El-Bayaa, 2024. "Examining the Quadratic Impact of Sovereign Environmental, Social, and Governance Practices on Firms’ Profitability: New Insights from the Financial Industry in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-26, March.
    17. Ubeda, Fernando & Mendez, Alvaro & Forcadell, Francisco Javier & López, Belén, 2024. "How socially sustainable multinational banks promote financial inclusion in developing countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    18. Arnone, Massimo & Leogrande, Angelo, 2024. "The Sustainability Of The Factoring Chain In Europe In The Light Of The Integration Of Esg Factors," OSF Preprints 753gf, Center for Open Science.
    19. Ubeda, Fernando & Mendez, Alvaro & Forcadell, Francisco Javier & López, Belén, 2024. "How socially sustainable multinational banks promote financial inclusion in developing countries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 124260, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    20. Michele Rubino & Ilaria Mastrorocco & Giovanni Maria Garegnani, 2024. "The influence of market and institutional factors on ESG rating disagreement," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3916-3926, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    JEL classification:

    • G22 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Insurance; Insurance Companies; Actuarial Studies
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

    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:spt:fininv:v:14:y:2025:i:3:f:14_3_1. 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: Eleftherios Spyromitros-Xioufis (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.scienpress.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.