Relationship between corporate sustainability performance and corporate financial performance: the case of companies from the WIG-ESG Index

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2024.4.1886

Keywords:

sustainable development, corporate sustainability, ESG scores, productivity effect

Abstract

The essential aim of this paper is to identify the effect of corporate sustainability performance (CSP) on corporate financial performance (CFP) among Polish companies, including all dimensions of sustainability. To achieve this goal, the main research hypothesis, stating that the relationship between CSP and corporate sales performance is positive, has been formulated. The empirical verification of this hypothesis is conducted among 21 companies from the WIG-ESG Index in two different research periods. The basic method of analysis is the panel regression model, which includes corporate sustainability scores as independent variables. All data was retrieved from the Refinitiv Eikon database and the Emerging Market Information Service. The main estimation result is that sales revenues are positively affected by environmental sustainability performance in the long period, while in the short period, governance sustainability performance has a positive impact on the return on sales.

JEL Classification

Production • Cost • Capital • Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity • Capacity (D24)
Multinational Firms • International Business (F23)
Corporate Culture • Diversity • Social Responsibility (M14)

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Agnese, P., Carè, R., Cerciello, M., & Taddeo, S. (2024). Reconsidering the impact of environmental, social and governance practices on firm profitability. Management Decision, in press. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-10-2023-1943
View in Google Scholar

Aluchna, M. (2015). Strategies of sustainable business. Warsaw School of Economics. Behl, A., Kumari, P. S. R., Makhija, H., & Sharma, D. (2022). Exploring the relation- ship of ESG score and firm value using cross-lagged panel analysis: Case of the Indian energy sector. Annals of Operations Research, 313, 231–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10479-021-04189-8
View in Google Scholar

Berg, F., Kölbel J. F., & Rigobon, R. (2022). Aggregate confusion: The divergence of ESG ratings. Review of Finance, 26(6), 1315–1344. https://doi.org/10.1093/rof/rfac033
View in Google Scholar

Brockett, A., & Rezaee, Z. (2012). Corporate sustainability: Integrating performance and reporting. John Wiley & Sons.
View in Google Scholar

Bruna, M. G., & Lahouel, B. B. (2022). CSR & financial performance: Facing methodological and modeling issues commentary paper to the eponymous FRL article collection. Finance Research Letters, 44(2), 102036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102036
View in Google Scholar

Budsaratragoon, P., & Jitmaneeroj, B. (2019). Measuring causal relations and identifying critical drivers for corporate sustainability: The quadruple bottom line approach. Measuring Business Excellence, 23(3), 292–316. https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-10-2017-0080
View in Google Scholar

Bumin, M., & Ertugrul, A. (2024). Effect of ESG scores on firm performance: Evidence from Borsa Istanbul Sustainability Index. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(4), 1033–1047. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i4/21379
View in Google Scholar

Burchard-Dziubińska, M. (2014). Idea zrównoważonego rozwoju. In M. Burchard-Dziubińska, A. Rzeńca & D. Drzazga, Zrównoważony rozwój – naturalny wybór (pp. 9–33). Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego.
View in Google Scholar

Cobb, C. W., & Douglas, P. H. (1928). A theory of production. The American Economic Review, 18(1), 139–165.
View in Google Scholar

Daszyńska-Żygadło, K. (2013). Impact of CSR on operating financial results: The case of companies from RESPECT Index. In A. Długopolska-Mikonowicz, S. Przytuła,
View in Google Scholar

C. Stehr (Eds.), Corporate social responsibility in Poland (pp. 59–72). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00440-8_5
View in Google Scholar

Dyllick, T., & Hockerts, K. (2002). Beyond the case for corporate sustainability. Business Strategy and the Environment, 11(2), 130–141. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.323
View in Google Scholar

Elkington, J. (1997). Cannibals with forks: The triple bottom line of 21st century business. John Wiley & Sons.
View in Google Scholar

Fooladi, M. (2012). Board characteristics and firm performance. Journal of Modern Accounting and Auditing, 8(5), 688–694.
View in Google Scholar

Freeman, R. E., & McVea, J. (2001). A stakeholder approach to strategic management. Darden School of Business Administration: University of Virginia, Working Paper, 01-02. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.263511
View in Google Scholar

Galbreath, J. (2013). ESG in focus: The Australian evidence. Journal Business Ethics, 118, 529–541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-012-1607-9
View in Google Scholar

Giovannoni, E., & Fabietti, G. (2013). What is sustainability? A review of the concept and its applications. In C. Busco, M. L. Frigo, P. Quattrone & A. Riccaboni (Eds.), Integrated reporting. Concepts and cases that redefine corporate accountability (pp. 21–40). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02168-3_2
View in Google Scholar

Gond, J., Grubnic, S., Herzig, C., & Moon, J. (2012). Configuring management control systems: Theorizing the integration of strategy and sustainability. Management Accounting Research, 23(3), 205–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2012.06.003
View in Google Scholar

GPW Benchmark. (2022a). Card of the ESG-WIG Index. https://gpwbenchmark.pl/en-karta-indeksu?isin=PL9999998955
View in Google Scholar

GPW Benchmark. (2022b). Composition of the WIG-ESG Index after revision on March 18, 2022. https://gpwbenchmark.pl/pub/BENCHMARK/files/PDF/komunikaty_indeksowe/Portfele_WIG_WIG-Poland_WIG-CEE_WIG-Ukraine_WIGdiv_WIG-ESG_2022_03_11.pdf
View in Google Scholar

Gray, R. (2010). Is accounting for sustainability actually accounting for sustainability... and how would we know? An exploration of narratives of organisations and the planet. Accounting Organizations and Society, 35(1), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969160X.2011.556420
View in Google Scholar

Jha, M. K., & Rangarajan, K. (2020). Analysis of corporate sustainability performance and corporate financial performance causal linkage in the Indian context. Asian Journal of Sustainability and Social Responsibility, 5(1), 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41180-020-00038-z
View in Google Scholar

Jones, D. C. (1993). The productivity effects of employee ownership within command economies: Evidence from Poland. Managerial and Decision Economics, 14(5), 475–485. https://doi.org/10.1002/mde.4090140511
View in Google Scholar

Kantabutra, S., & Ketprapakorn, N. (2020). Toward a theory of corporate sustainability: A theoretical integration and exploration. Journal of Cleaner Production, 270, 122292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.122292
View in Google Scholar

Knežević, B., & Škrobot, P. (2021). Sustainable development in corporate strategy. In M. Stefańska (Ed.), Sustainability and sustainable development (pp. 71–82). Poznań University of Economics and Business Press. https://doi.org/10.18559/978-83-8211-074-6/II1
View in Google Scholar

Li, L., Saat, M. M., Khatib, S. F. A., Chu, P., & Sulimany, H. G. H. (2024). Navigating the impact: A comprehensive analysis of ESG disclosure consequences through systematic review. Business Strategy & Development, 7(2), e382. https://doi.org/10.1002/bsd2.382
View in Google Scholar

Lu, L., & Taylor, M. (2016). Which factors moderate the relationship between sustainability performance and financial performance? A meta-analysis study. Journal of International Accounting Research, 15(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2308/jiar-51103
View in Google Scholar

Mensah, J. (2019). Sustainable development: Meaning, history, principles, pillars, and implications for human action: Literature review. Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1653531
View in Google Scholar

Mikołajek-Gocejna, M. (2024). The relationship between ESG rating and firm value— evidence from companies listed on Polish Capital Market in the WIG-ESG index. Central European Economic Journal, 11(58), 141–158. https://doi.org/10.2478/ceej-2024-0011
View in Google Scholar

Nizam, E., Ng, A., Dewandaru, G., Nagayev, R., & Nikoba, M. A. (2019). The impact of social and environmental sustainability on financial performance: a global analysis of the banking sector. Journal of Multinational Financial Management, 49, 35–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mulfin.2019.01.002
View in Google Scholar

Nollet, J., Filis, G., & Mitrokostas, E. (2016). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: A non-linear and disaggregated approach. Economic Modelling, 52, 400–407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2015.09.019
View in Google Scholar

Oželienė, D. (2017). A review of enterprise sustainable development models: Critical appraisal. International Scientific Journal “Science. Business. Society”, 2(2), 257– 263.
View in Google Scholar

Perrini, F., Russo, A., Tencati, A., & Vurro, C. (2011). Deconstructing the relationship between corporate social and financial performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 102(1), 59–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-1194-1
View in Google Scholar

Przychodzeń, W. (2013). Zrównoważone przedsiębiorstwo. Teoria, praktyka, wycena, nauczanie. Poltext.
View in Google Scholar

Sanders, N. R., & Wood, J. D. (2015). Foundations of sustainable business. John Wiley & Sons.
View in Google Scholar

SDSN (Sustainable Development Solution Network). (2013). An action agenda for sustainable development. United Nations Publishing.
View in Google Scholar

Sikacz, H., & Wołczek, P. (2018). ESG analysis of companies included in the RESPECT Index based on Thomson Reuters EIKON database. Research Papers of Wroclaw University of Economics, 520, 115–127. https://doi.org/10.15611/pn.2018.520.10
View in Google Scholar

Soana, M. -G. (2011). The relationship between corporate social performance and corporate financial performance in the bank sector. Journal of Business Ethics, 104(1), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-011-0894-x
View in Google Scholar

Tran, T. H., & Pham, H. (2022). How do environmental, social and governance reporting promote sales? Empirical evidence from global firms. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 32(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2022.2118816
View in Google Scholar

Tuppura, A., Arminen H., Pätäri, S., & Jantunen, A. (2016). Corporate social and financial performance in different industry contexts: The chicken or the egg? Social Responsibility Journal, 12(4), 672–686. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-12-2015-0181
View in Google Scholar

UN (United Nations). (2012). Future we want. United Nations Publishing.
View in Google Scholar

Waddock, S. A., & Graves, S. B. (1997). The corporate social performance financial performance link. Strategic Management Journal, 18(4), 303–319. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0266(199704)18:4<303::AID-SMJ869>3.0.CO;2-G
View in Google Scholar

Wagner, M. (2010). The role of corporate sustainability performance for economic performance: A firm-level analysis of moderation effects. Ecological Economics, 69(7), 1553–1560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.02.017
View in Google Scholar

WCED (World Commission on Environment and Development). (1987). Our common future. Oxford University Press.
View in Google Scholar

Witkowska, J. (2016). Koszty i korzyści społecznej odpowiedzialności przedsiębiorstw. In Z. Wysokińska & J. Witkowska, Zrównoważony rozwój. Wybrane aspekty makro- i mikroekonomiczne (pp. 155–160). Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego.
View in Google Scholar

Xiao, C., Wang, Q., van der Vaart, T., & van Donk, D. P. (2018). When does corporate sustainability performance pay off? The impact of country-level sustainability performance. Ecological Economics, 146, 325–333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecole-con.2017.11.025
View in Google Scholar

Yilmaz, I. (2021). Sustainability and financial performance relationship: International evidence. World Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 17(3), 537–549. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJEMSD-10-2020-0133
View in Google Scholar

Zhao, X., & Murrell, A. J. (2016). Revisiting the corporate social performance-financial performance link: A replication of Waddock and Graves. Strategic Management Journal, 37(11), 2378–2388. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2579
View in Google Scholar

Ziegler, A., Schröder, M., & Rennings, K. (2007). The effects of environmental and social performance on the stock performance of European corporations. Environmental and Resource Economics, 37(4), 661–680. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-007-9082-y
View in Google Scholar

Downloads

Published

2024-12-19

Issue

Section

Research article- regular issue

How to Cite

Matuszewska-Pierzynka, A. (2024). Relationship between corporate sustainability performance and corporate financial performance: the case of companies from the WIG-ESG Index. Economics and Business Review, 10(4), 165-188. https://doi.org/10.18559/ebr.2024.4.1886

Similar Articles

1-10 of 179

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.