Research on ESG Performance, Financing Constraints and Corporate Value

Authors

  • Dan Jiang
  • Ziyun Yan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/hgywxs54

Keywords:

ESG performance, Financing constraints, Corporate value

Abstract

Under the strategic background of advancing ecological civilization construction and achieving the "dual carbon" goals, the ESG concept is increasingly becoming a key driver of China's high-quality economic development and a new benchmark for value investment in the capital market. However, despite the growing diversification of financing channels in China's financial market, structural imbalances remain prominent, resulting in severe financing constraints for many enterprises, which restrict normal operations and strategic investments, and become a critical bottleneck hindering industrial transformation and economic structure optimization. To this end, this paper selects 2,452 enterprises listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share main board markets from 2015 to 2024 as research subjects, incorporates financing constraints as a core mediating variable into the analytical framework, and deeply examines the transmission mechanism between ESG performance and corporate value. The empirical findings are as follows: (1) improving ESG performance can enhance corporate value; (2) ESG performance helps alleviate corporate financing constraints; (3) alleviating financing constraints can enhance corporate value; (4) financing constraints play a mediating role between ESG performance and corporate value.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] Wang, X., Luan, X., & Zhang, S. (2023). Corporate R&D Investment, ESG Performance and Market Value: The Moderating Effect of Enterprise Digitalization Level. Studies in Science of Science, (05), 131-139+150.

[2] Yang, M., & Wan, G. (2023). Corporate ESG Performance, Financing Constraints and Enterprise Innovation. Times of Economy & Trade, (03), 54-59.

[3] Sun, X. (2023). Research on the Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on R&D Investment: The Mediating Effect of Financing Constraints. Commercial Accounting, (07), 89-93.

[4] Chau, L., Anh, L., & Duc, V. (2025). Valuing ESG: How Financial Markets Respond to Corporate Sustainability. International Business Review, 34(3), 102418.

[5] Li, J. (2025). A Review of Research on the Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on Firm Value. China Market, (04), 76-79.

[6] Xu, Y., & Zheng, H. (2024). ESG Performance and Corporate Value: The Mediating Role of Reputation. Industrial Engineering and Innovation Management, 7(1), 30-38.

[7] David, K., Kwakutse, F. A., & Amin, K., et al. (2025). ESG Investing and the Performance of JSE-Listed Real Estate Firms: A System GMM Approach. Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 43(2), 222-243.

[8] Liu, Y., & Tang, R. (2021). The Impact of ESG on Corporate Value. China Asset Appraisal, (11), 81.

[9] Wang, L. (2023). Digitalization of Value Chain, Innovation Resource Allocation and Corporate Financing Constraints. On Economic Problems, (04), 51-58.

[10] Minsuck, J., & Boyoung, K. (2022). The Effects of ESG Activity Recognition of Corporate Employees on Job Performance: The Case of South Korea. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(7), 316.

[11] Song, X. (2023). Corporate Social Responsibility Information Disclosure and Enterprise Innovation: An Empirical Study Based on the Perspective of Corporate Financing Constraints and Government Financial and Tax Support. Journal of Tonghua Normal University, (01), 106-111.

[12] Ban, Q., & Xu, L. (2023). Privatization, Financing Constraints and Corporate Operating Performance: An Empirical Study Based on Comparison Before and After the Financial Crisis. North China Finance, (01), 15-27.

[13] Hori, K., Kamiyama, C., & Saito, O. (2019). Exploring the Relationship Between Ecosystems and Human Well-being by Understanding the Preferences for Natural Capital-Based and Produced Capital-Based Ecosystem Services. Sustainability Science, 14(1), 107–118.

[14] Wang, L., & Li, J. (2023). The Impact of Corporate ESG Performance on Financing Constraints: The Moderating Role of Analyst Coverage. Management & Technology of SME, (08), 65-67.

[15] Yao, J., & Ni, Z. (2023). Research on the Relationship Between Carbon Accounting Information Disclosure and Corporate Financing Constraints: Based on Empirical Data of Listed Companies. Shanghai Energy Conservation, (05), 86-90.

[16] Zhao, W. (2023). Digital Transformation, Corporate Financing Constraints and Enterprise Innovation Capability. Business Manager, (04), 98-99.

[17] Hu, G., & Kou, S. (2023). Foreign Exchange Risk Hedging, Financing Constraints and Corporate Value. Price: Theory & Practice, (03), 126-129.

[18] Thu Anh Thi, V., & Vinh Hoang, L. (2021). The Effect of Tax Planning on Firm Value: A Case Study in Vietnam. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business (JAFEB), 8(2), 973-979.

[19] Li, Y. (2023). Enterprise DuPont Analysis under the "Internet + Medical" Marketing Model: A Case Study of Ali Health. Northern Economy and Trade, (07), 78-84.

[20] Gil, C. (2023). The Impact of ESG Risks on Corporate Value. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, 60(4), 1451–1468.

[21] An, H., Ran, C., & Gao, Y. (2025). Does ESG Information Disclosure Increase Firm Value? The Mediation Role of Financing Constraints in China. Research in International Business and Finance, 73(PA), 102584.

[22] Liu, X. (2023). Supply Chain Finance and Financing Constraints of SMEs: A Moderating Effect Study Based on Analyst Attention. Fortune Times, (01), 104-107.

[23] Zhou, X., & Han, L. (2023). Macroeconomic Policy and Enterprise Technological Innovation: A Review and Prospect Based on the Perspective of Financing Constraints. Friends of Accounting, (01), 49-55.

[24] Bai, S., Zheng, S., & Wang, Y. (2023). Research on Dual-Channel Production and Financing Decision of Capital-Constrained Manufacturing Enterprises. Computer Simulation, (01), 327-333.

[25] Chen, H., & Zhang, L. (2023). ESG Performance, Digital Transformation and Enhancement of Corporate Value. Journal of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, (03), 137-150.

[26] Wang, D., & Zhang, D. (2023). ESG Performance, High-Quality Development of Manufacturing Industry and Digital Transformation. Statistics and Decision, 39(19), 172-176.

[27] Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The Moderator-Mediator Variable Distinction in Social Psychological Research: Conceptual, Strategic, and Statistical Considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(6), 1173–1182.

Downloads

Published

15-03-2026

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Jiang, D., & Yan, Z. (2026). Research on ESG Performance, Financing Constraints and Corporate Value. Frontiers in Business, Economics and Management, 22(3), 77-84. https://doi.org/10.54097/hgywxs54