Deciphering the ESG-Performance Conundrum. An Analysis of the Relationship and Causality in Corporate Financial Performance

Master's Thesis from the year 2023 in the subject Business economics - Investment and Finance, Kiel University of Applied Sciences (Economics), language: English, abstract: Financial performance is an essential measurement that companies are aiming to improve by following various strategies. These strategies could be environmental-, social- or governmental (ESG). However, in the literature, the relationship between company performance and ESG is under huge debate. On the one hand, studies show that ESG influences positively company performance by improving corporate sustainability as well as attracting investors and stakeholders. On the other hand, studies suggest an opposite impact on the company performance. Furthermore, some studies find no relationship between both of them. In light of these contradicting results, this study aims to investigate ESG in the context of company performance to shed light on their relationship and causality. Moreover, this study includes various indicators and variables that represent company performance. The overall outcome of this study suggests that the company performance has no significant impact on the ESG and vice versa.