Environmental, social, and governance performance and firm performance in Thailand: The moderating role of governance

Exploring the Moderating Role of Country Governance in the Relationship Between Sustainable Performance and Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence From an Emerging Market

Sustainable development is increasingly reshaping corporate strategies, particularly in emerging markets such as India, where environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration has become pivotal for long‐term value creation. This study examines the impact of ESG performance on firm outcomes for Nifty 500 firms over 2014–2024, considering both aggregated and disaggregated ESG dimensions, while assessing the influence of country‐level governance mechanisms. Using panel regression analysis, the findings reveal that robust ESG practices significantly enhance financial, operational, and market performance, underscoring their strategic relevance. At the disaggregated level, social (SOC) and governance (GOV) performance consistently improve profitability, efficiency, and market valuation, whereas environmental (ENV) initiatives exhibit short‐term negative effects, likely due to compliance and investment costs. Further, country governance indicators, including voice and accountability (VAA), political stability and absence of violence (PSV), government effectiveness (GVE), regulatory quality (REQ), rule of law (ROL), and control of corruption (COC), differentially shape the ESG–performance link. While VAA, PSV, REQ, and GVE enhance ESG's impact, ROL and COC constrain immediate gains, highlighting the role of governance quality in aligning ESG initiatives with firm‐level outcomes. The study provides critical insights for regulators, policymakers, investors, and corporate managers, emphasizing governance as a key enabler of sustainable growth in an emerging market.

THE EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE DIMENSIONS ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SMEs FIRMS LISTED ON THE INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE ACCELERATION BOARD

This study examines the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) dimensions on financial performance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Acceleration Board. Using a quantitative approach, this study employs panel data regression analysis on secondary data collected from 18 SMEs over the period 2023–2024, resulting in 36 firm-year observations. ESG performance is measured using a content analysis approach based on disclosure scores for each dimension, while financial performance is proxied by Return on Assets (ROA). Firm size and leverage are included as control variables. The results of the Fixed Effect Model (FEM) indicate that the environmental, social, and governance dimensions do not have a significant effect on financial performance. In contrast, firm size shows a positive and significant effect on ROA, while leverage does not exhibit a significant relationship. These findings suggest that ESG practices in SMEs are still in an early stage and tend to be compliance-driven, thus not yet contributing to financial performance. Additionally, the results highlight that internal firm characteristics, particularly firm size, play a more dominant role in determining financial outcomes. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the ESG–financial performance relationship in SMEs within an emerging market context, particularly those operating under regulatory frameworks such as the IDX Acceleration Board. The findings offer important implications for policymakers, investors, and SME managers regarding the strategic implementation of ESG practices.

The Influence of Environment, Social and Governance on Optimal Portfolio

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance on optimal portfolio formation among energy and mineral companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). It further investigates the individual contribution of each ESG dimension in explaining portfolio optimization. Method: This study employs a quantitative research design using secondary data from the sustainability reports and annual reports of energy and mineral firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during 2020–2024. A purposive sampling technique was applied, resulting in 32 firms (160 firm-year observations). ESG performance was measured using the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) indicators, while the optimal portfolio was assessed based on expected return and portfolio risk. The hypotheses were tested using multiple linear regression analysis. Findings: The findings reveal that Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) jointly have a significant effect on optimal portfolio performance. Partially, environmental and governance dimensions positively influence optimal portfolios, whereas the social dimension does not show a significant effect. The results indicate that investors place greater emphasis on environmental and governance practices than social initiatives when evaluating optimal portfolios in the Indonesian energy and mineral sector. Novelty: This study extends the ESG literature by integrating GRI-based ESG disclosure with optimal portfolio theory in the context of Indonesia's energy and mineral sector. Unlike previous studies that primarily examine the relationship between ESG and firm performance, this research provides empirical evidence on how individual ESG dimensions contribute to portfolio optimization using expected return and risk as the investment performance framework.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) AND FIRM VALUE: EVIDENCE FROM NON-FINANCIAL COMPANIES IN INDONESIA

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Performance and Firm Value: The Moderating Role of Banking-Specific ESG Context

This study examines the effect of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance on firm value in the banking sector and investigates whether banking-specific ESG context moderates this relationship. Using panel data from 133 bank-year observations covering 26 banks during 2019–2024, the study employs panel regression analysis based on the Common Effect Model, Fixed Effect Model, and Random Effects Model. Model selection is performed using the Chow, Breusch–Pagan Lagrange Multiplier, and Hausman tests. ESG performance is measured using aggregate ESG performance and its environmental, social, and governance dimensions, while firm value is measured using Tobin’s Q. The results show that overall ESG performance has a negative but statistically insignificant effect on firm value. Similarly, environmental, social, and governance performance individually have no statistically significant effects on firm value. The moderation analysis further indicates that banking-specific ESG context does not significantly moderate the relationship between ESG performance and firm value, either at the aggregate level or across individual ESG dimensions. These findings suggest that ESG implementation alone may not be sufficient to generate immediate market valuation benefits. ESG value creation may depend on strategic integration, credible disclosure, effective governance, risk management, and stakeholder recognition.

Analysis of the Relationship Between ESG and Firm Value with the Moderating Role of Earnings Management

Background: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has become an increasingly important non-financial factor in assessing corporate sustainability and long-term performance. Objective: This research seeks to analyze the impact of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors on corporate value and to explore the role of earnings management as a moderating variable in the relationship between ESG and firm value. Methods: This research utilizes a quantitative methodology, drawing on panel data from consumer goods firms listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period spanning 2022 to 2025. The sample comprises 31 companies, yielding 124 firm-year observations, which were selected through purposive sampling. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance is assessed via a disclosure index aligned with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards, while firm value is represented by Tobin’s Q. Results: This finding indicates that investors and consumers in the consumer goods sector continue to place greater emphasis on financial performance, product quality, price, and brand reputation than on sustainability-related information. Furthermore, earnings management is not proven to moderate the relationship between ESG and firm value. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting that the effectiveness of ESG in enhancing firm value depends not only on disclosure practices but also on market characteristics, investor perceptions, consumer behavior, and the firm's ability to integrate sustainability initiatives into business strategies that generate tangible economic benefits. Conclusion: The findings provide implications for managers and regulators in improving the quality of ESG implementation and ensuring that sustainability practices contribute to long-term value creation.