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The curvilinear and time‐lagging impact of sustainability performance on financial performance: Evidence from Germany

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  • Claudio Nuber
  • Patrick Velte
  • Jacob Hörisch

Abstract

Based on the stakeholder‐agency theory, this study empirically investigates the impact of sustainability performance on financial performance. We rely on a sample from the German DAX30, MDAX, and TecDAX from 2008 to 2017. In contrast to former studies concentrating on the German market that tested a direct linear relationship between sustainability performance and financial performance, a time‐lagging and curvilinear regression analysis was carried out, and evidence of a U‐shaped relationship was found. This implies that sustainability management aiming at increasing financial performance should proactively strive for very high levels of corporate sustainability to meet the needs of investors and further stakeholders.

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  • Claudio Nuber & Patrick Velte & Jacob Hörisch, 2020. "The curvilinear and time‐lagging impact of sustainability performance on financial performance: Evidence from Germany," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(1), pages 232-243, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:27:y:2020:i:1:p:232-243
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1795
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    2. Bruna, Maria Giuseppina & Loprevite, Salvatore & Raucci, Domenico & Ricca, Bruno & Rupo, Daniela, 2022. "Investigating the marginal impact of ESG results on corporate financial performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PA).
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    4. Macchioni, Riccardo & Prisco, Martina & Zagaria, Claudia, 2024. "The value relevance of voluntary disclosure through social media platforms: Evidence from European Union listed firms," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    5. Ben Lahouel, Béchir & Ben Zaied, Younes & Managi, Shunsuke & Taleb, Lotfi, 2022. "Re-thinking about U: The relevance of regime-switching model in the relationship between environmental corporate social responsibility and financial performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 498-519.
    6. Li, Yulei & Hu, Shiyang & Zhang, Shu & Xue, Rui, 2023. "The Power of the Imperial Envoy: The Impact of Central Government Onsite Environmental Supervision Policy on Corporate Green Innovation," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    7. Chih-Wen Hsiao & Ya-Chuan Chan & Mei-Yu Lee & Hsi-Peng Lu, 2021. "Heteroscedasticity and Precise Estimation Model Approach for Complex Financial Time-Series Data: An Example of Taiwan Stock Index Futures before and during COVID-19," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(21), pages 1-18, October.
    8. Andrew S. Chang & Claudia Canelas & Yi-Ling Chen, 2021. "Relationships between Environmental Initiatives and Impact Reductions for Construction Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-15, July.

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