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Exploring the performance of responsible companies in G20 during the COVID-19 outbreak

Author

Listed:
  • Rim El Khoury

    (NDU - Notre Dame University-Louaize [Lebanon])

  • Nohade Nasrallah

    (LIRSA - Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de recherche en sciences de l'action - CNAM - Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers [CNAM] - HESAM - HESAM Université - Communauté d'universités et d'établissements Hautes écoles Sorbonne Arts et métiers université)

  • Khaled Hussainey

    (University of Portsmouth)

Abstract

An uphill question of whether Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) directly impact firms' financial performance (FP) continues to vacillate between two opponent streams. In the present study, we argue that COVID-19 is an extreme event where the effect of ESG sharply manifests. We rely on cross-sectional data in the context of G20 countries for the year 2020. To avoid biased results due to governments support, we integrate four novel metrics provided by the Oxford Coronavirus Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT). We run sequential regressions (OLS; and quartiles to account for the Ingrained Income Bias (IIB) and ESG scores). We also perform robustness tests and account for the interaction between ESG and cash level. Our models were subsequently replicated for each ESG pillar. Findings indicate that ESG is beneficial during COVID-19, but the reward appears to be closely tied up to specific aspects of ESG, income level, and firm-specific variables. Results contribute to the burgeoning literature on ESG during COVID-19 by reflecting on firms' key attributes and the preponderance of government support.

Suggested Citation

  • Rim El Khoury & Nohade Nasrallah & Khaled Hussainey, 2022. "Exploring the performance of responsible companies in G20 during the COVID-19 outbreak," Post-Print hal-03761427, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03761427
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131693
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://cnam.hal.science/hal-03761427
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    2. Akhtaruzzaman, Md & Banerjee, Ameet Kumar & Ghardallou, Wafa & Umar, Zaghum, 2022. "Is greenness an optimal hedge for sectoral stock indices?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 117(C).
    3. Zhang, Dongyang, 2023. "Does green finance really inhibit extreme hypocritical ESG risk? A greenwashing perspective exploration," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    4. Duppati, Geeta & Younes, Ben Zaied & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran, 2023. "Time-varying effects of fuel prices on stock market returns during COVID-19 outbreak," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    5. Rajesh Raut & Amruta Deshpande & Kirti Gupta & Natashaa Kaul & Nivedita Ekbote, 2023. "Status of Women in Corporate Governance in the Private Sector Companies in India," Indian Journal of Corporate Governance, , vol. 16(1), pages 94-107, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    G20; ESG; ESG pillars; COVID-19; Oxford Coronavirus government response tracker (OxCGRT); ROA; ROE; TR; MB;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General

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