ESG Performance and Shareholder Value Creation in the Banking Industry: International Differences

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to study the role of socially responsible activities on shareholder value creation in a sample of 166 banks from 31 countries over the 2010–2015 period. Prior research about this relationship is scarce and limited to the period before and during the global financial crisis. In contrast, this research analyzes banks over a period of time when these institutions have increased their social responsibility practices in order to reinforce their credibility and the trust their stakeholders have in them. More precisely, we analyze the relationship between these two magnitudes distinguishing between environmental, social, and corporate governance actions as well as between countries taking into account the level of development, legal systems, and the geographic area. Our findings are relevant not only for academics, but also for the managers of these companies, policymakers, investors, and society in general.