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Does sustainability generate better financial performance? review, meta-analysis, and propositions

Author

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  • Ulrich Atz
  • Tracy Van Holt
  • Zongyuan Zoe Liu
  • Christopher C. Bruno

Abstract

Sustainability in business and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) in finance have exploded in popularity among researchers and practitioners. We surveyed 1,141 primary peer-reviewed papers and 27 meta-reviews (based on ∼1,400 underlying studies) published between 2015 and 2020. Aggregate conclusions from a sample suggest that the financial performance of ESG investing has on average been indistinguishable from conventional investing (with one in three studies indicating superior performance) – in contrast with research in the wider management literature as well as industry reports. Until recently top finance journals did not publish climate change related studies, yet these studies capture the frontier of corporate risk and ESG investment strategies. We developed three propositions: first, ESG integration as a strategy seems to perform better than screening or divestment; second, ESG investing provides asymmetric benefits, especially during a social or economic crisis; and third, decarbonization strategies can potentially capture a climate risk premium.

Suggested Citation

  • Ulrich Atz & Tracy Van Holt & Zongyuan Zoe Liu & Christopher C. Bruno, 2023. "Does sustainability generate better financial performance? review, meta-analysis, and propositions," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 802-825, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jsustf:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:802-825
    DOI: 10.1080/20430795.2022.2106934
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Elisa Bocchialini & Demetrio Miloslavo Bova & Ilaria Colivicchi & Federica Ielasi, 2024. "Environmental-, Social-, and Governance-Oriented Pension Funds for Young Contributors: A Win–Win Option," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    2. Merladet, Jorge & Lumbreras, Sara & Ramos, Andrés, 2025. "The resilient power of CSR: Sustained risk reduction despite widespread ESG adoption," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    3. Guerrero-Escobar, Santiago & Hernández-del-Valle, Gerardo & Hernández-Vega, Marco, 2025. "The stock market effects of committing and setting GHG targets: evidence from the science-based targets initiative," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    4. Leifhelm, Mathis & Klein, Christian & Scholz, Peter, 2025. "Sustainable yet similar: Challenging the performance and risk assumptions of sustainable market indices," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Mário Nuno Mata & Rui Miguel Dantas & João Miguel Rita, 2026. "Mapping the Knowledge Landscape of Sustainable Finance in the Face of Climate Challenges: a Bibliometric Analysis," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(2), pages 4140-4174, April.
    6. Berle, Erika & He, Wanwei (Angela) & Ødegaard, Bernt Arne, 2025. "The stock market and corporate consequences of ethical exclusions by the world’s largest fund," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    7. Song, Yunling & Wu, Hao & Ma, Yan, 2023. "Does ESG performance affect audit pricing? Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    8. Khan, Muhammad Arif & Vismara, Silvio, 2025. "Green bond issuance and corporate environmental and financial performance: A meta-analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    9. Enrico Bernardini & Marco Fanari & Enrico Foscolo & Francesco Ruggiero, 2024. "Environmental data and scores: Lost in translation," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4796-4818, September.
    10. Wang, Zhongli & Nishihara, Michi, 2025. "Investment and information asymmetry in corporate sustainability: Incentive-auditing contracts and policy insights," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    11. Bernal, Oscar & Hudon, Marek & Ledru, François-Xavier, 2025. "Who buys social bank shares? Exploring individual financial and non-pecuniary motives," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    12. Liu, Dianhao & Zhou, Jun, 2025. "Do ESG rating changes matter? Evidence from Chinese stock market," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    13. Bauckloh, Tobias & Dobrick, Juris & Höck, André & Utz, Sebastian & Wagner, Marcus, 2024. "In partnership for the goals? The level of agreement between SDG ratings," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 664-678.
    14. Alves, Rómulo & Krüger, Philipp & van Dijk, Mathijs, 2025. "Drawing up the bill: Are ESG ratings related to stock returns around the world?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    15. Muhtar Sapiri & Aditya Halim Perdana Kusuma Putra, 2023. "Causality of Bank Financial Performance, Green Bond, CSR, Green Financing Portfolio and CO2 Emissions in Transportation: Evidence from Indonesia," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 13(6), pages 511-522, November.
    16. Andreas Breitenfellner & Heider Kariem, 2023. "What do people in Austria think about green finance?," Financial Stability Report, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 46, pages 47-63.
    17. Mohammad I. Jizi & Mahmoud Arayssi, 2026. "Do investors value GCC firms’ social performance?," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(1), pages 23-35, March.
    18. Lin, Xiang & Bali Swain, Ranjula, 2024. "Performance of negatively screened sustainable investments during crisis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 1226-1247.
    19. Dou, Jie & Mirza, Nawazish & Umar, Muhammad & Horobet, Alexandra, 2025. "ESG uncertainties and valuation implications: Evidence from the EU banking sector," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    20. Salguero, Ricardo Alonzo Fernandez, 2025. "Financial Impact of Climate Risk and Green Finance: A Review of Meta-Analyses, Reviews, and Theory," SocArXiv aqy84_v1, Center for Open Science.
    21. Syed Shoaib Nazir & Taimur Ashiq & Mazhar Farid Chishti & Riffat Ullah & Athar Marwat, 2024. "Assessing Financial Stability through ESG: The Impact of Sustainable Finance on Commercial Banks listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)," Bulletin of Business and Economics (BBE), Research Foundation for Humanity (RFH), vol. 13(3), pages 120-129.
    22. Ian Berk & Massimo Guidolin & Monia Magnani, 2023. "New ESG rating drivers in the cross‐section of European stock returns," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 46(S1), pages 133-162, December.
    23. Giglio, Stefano & Maggiori, Matteo & Stroebel, Johannes & Tan, Zhenhao & Utkus, Stephen & Xu, Xiao, 2025. "Four facts about ESG beliefs and investor portfolios," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    24. Su, Yang & Lucey, Brian M. & Jha, Ashish Kumar, 2024. "Finance Research and the UN Sustainable Development Goals – An analysis and forward look," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

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