Saudi Cultural Missions Theses & Dissertations
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Item Restricted Measuring the Variability of ESG: Implications for CSR and Corporate Financial Performance(University of East Anglia, 2024) Aljamaan, Bader; Markellos, RaphaelThis study develops four measures of variability to quantify a firm’s social responsibility performance over time, addressing a significant gap in the literature. Applying these measures on both the overall CSR performance scores, as proxied by ESG scores, and the variability of workforce performance, as scores proxied by workforce scores. While prior studies have extensively examined the impact of the overall CSR performance on corporate financial performance, there is a lack of empirical studies quantifying a firm’s social responsibility performance variability over time and its implications for financial outcomes. Therefore, this study fills this gap by proposing four measures to assess the variability of a firm’s social responsibility performance using ESG scores, and workforce scores and empirically examining their impacts on corporate financial performance. This research seeks to answer two key questions: Does stability in CSR performance improve corporate financial performance? And Does stability in workforce performance enhance corporate financial performance? Using a sample of 379 publicly traded U.S. firms from 2004 to 2022, this study evaluates CSR and workforce performance stability over time through annual ESG scores and workforce scores produced by LSEG (formerly known as Refinitiv, and before that was known as ASSETS4). ESG scores measure a company’s environmental, social, and governance performance, while workforce dimension of social pillar captures how well a firm promotes diversity and inclusion, career development and training, working conditions, and health and safety (Refinitiv, 2021). The study is structured in three parts. First, it develops four measures of stability: (1) coefficients of variation, (2) Beta, (3) temporal trend, and (4) residuals. Second, it applies these measures of a firm’s overall CSR performance using ESG scores, as well as workforce-specific performance using workforce scores. Third, it analyses the relationship between these stability measures and corporate financial performance. The findings reveal that less variability in CSR performance measured by coefficients of variation of ESG (ESGCV) leads to improved firm profitability (ROA). Additionally, Tobin’s q shows significant associations with two stability measures beta of ESG (ESGBETA), a negative impact, indicating that less deviation of CSR performance compared to the market overall CSR performance is rewarded with higher firm value, and CSR temporal trend (ESGTREND), a positive effect, suggesting that improving CSR performance over time in alignment with market trends enhance firm value. However, variability measures do not significantly impact stock returns as one of the corporate financial indicators. Regarding workforce stability performance and its impact of corporate financial performance, the results demonstrate a more pronounced impact on financial performance compared to CSR stability. Higher workforce variability measured by workforce scores coefficient of variation (WFCV) negatively affects both ROA and Tobin’s q, while improving workforce performance over time measured by temporal trend (WFTREND) is associated with marginally higher profitability. Notably, not all stability measures show significant relationships, suggesting that the link between CSR consistency and financial performance may be complex, potentially due to data limitations, measurement challenges or the multifaceted nature of financial performance metrics. Overall, the findings underscore the strategic importance of CSR as a long-term investment, emphasizing the need for continuity and consistency in CSR efforts, particularly in workforce-related initiatives. Firms that sustain or improve CSR performance over time are better positioned to ensure stakeholder satisfaction and secure a sustainable competitive advantage. This study contributes to the literature by introducing new measures of social responsibility stability performance and positioning CSR consistency as a strategic asset. By capturing the variability in both overall CSR and workforce performance, this study highlights the importance of integrating CSR efforts into business operations, with more emphasis on workforce performance as a key component of CSR dimensions. Integrating CSR into organisational strategies has become crucial, reflecting a commitment to ethical behaviour and sustainable efforts. By analysing the stability of CSR performance as a strategic aspect, this study reinforces the view that continuity in CSR efforts, as shown in workforce and overall ESG performance, not only enhances financial performance, but also aligns with the argument that emphasises mutual trust between a firm and its stakeholders. This study therefore provides evidence to support policymakers and managers in prioritising workforce stability as part of CSR, so as to maintain financial performance and generate benefits in the long term.11 0