The Impact of Overinvestment on Environmental, Social and Governance Ratings: Evidence from Chinese Corporations

Main Article Content

Mingyao Cao
Keyi Duan
Mingyu Cao
Haslindar Ibrahim

Abstract

In an era where sustainability practices face increasing global scrutiny, understanding how investment decisions impact ESG ratings is essential. This study examines the relationship between corporate overinvestment and ESG ratings using data from Chinese corporations between 2012 and 2020. Employing fixed effects models for empirical analysis, the results reveal a significant negative relationship between overinvestment and ESG ratings, particularly affecting the social aspect. These findings highlight the importance of efficient investment management in enhancing corporate ESG performance. The study provides valuable insights for corporations aiming to optimise resource allocation to improve their sustainability outcomes.

Article Details

How to Cite
Cao, M. ., Duan, K. ., Cao, M. ., & Ibrahim, H. (2025). The Impact of Overinvestment on Environmental, Social and Governance Ratings: Evidence from Chinese Corporations. Asian Academy of Management Journal of Accounting and Finance, 21(2), 1-28. https://doi.org/10.21315/aamjaf2025.21.2.1
Section
Articles

References

Allen, D. W., & Berg, C. (2020). Blockchain governance: What we can learn from the economics of corporate governance. The Journal of The British Blockchain Association, 3(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.31585/jbba-3-1-(8)2020

Amaral, C., Pedro, M. I., Ferreira, D. C., & Marques, R. C. (2022). Performance and its determinants in the Portuguese municipal solid waste utilities. Waste Management, 139, 70–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2021.12.020

Avramov, D., Cheng, S., Lioui, A., & Tarelli, A. (2022). Sustainable investing with ESG rating uncertainty. Journal of Financial Economics, 145(2), 642–664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.09.009

Bebchuk, L. A., & Stole, L. A. (1993). Do short‐term objectives lead to under‐or overinvestment in long-term projects? The Journal of Finance, 48(2), 719–729. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1993.tb04735.x

Benlemlih, M., & Bitar, M. (2018). Corporate social responsibility and investment efficiency. Journal of Business Ethics, 148, 647–671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3020-2

Burke, J. J. (2021). Do boards take environmental, social, and governance issues seriously? Evidence from media coverage and CEO dismissals. Journal of Business Ethics, 176, 647–671. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-020-04715-x

Chen, W., Zhang, L., Shi, L., Shao, Y., & Zhou, K. (2022). Carbon emissions trading system and investment efficiency: Evidence from China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 358, 131782. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131782

Chen, Z., & Xie, G. (2022). ESG disclosure and financial performance: Moderating role of ESG investors. International Review of Financial Analysis, 83, 102291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2022.102291

Cuevas‐Rodríguez, G., Gomez‐Mejia, L. R., & Wiseman, R. M. (2012). Has agency theory run its course?: Making the theory more flexible to inform the management of reward systems. Corporate Governance: An International Review, 20(6), 526–546. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12004

D’Mello, R., & Miranda, M. (2010). Long-term debt and overinvestment agency problem. Journal of Banking & Finance, 34(2), 324–335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2009.07.021

DasGupta, R. (2022). Financial performance shortfall, ESG controversies, and ESG performance: Evidence from firms around the world. Finance Research Letters, 46, 102487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102487

Feng, J., Goodell, J. W., & Shen, D. (2022). ESG rating and stock price crash risk: Evidence from China. Finance Research Letters, 46, 102476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102476

Franzoni, F. (2009). Underinvestment vs. overinvestment: Evidence from price reactions to pension contributions. Journal of financial Economics, 92(3), 491–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2008.06.004

Gomariz, M. F. C., & Ballesta, J. P. S. (2014). Financial reporting quality, debt maturity and investment efficiency. Journal of Banking & Finance, 40, 494–506. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.07.013

Gul, F. A., Krishnamurti, C., Shams, S., & Chowdhury, H. (2020). Corporate social responsibility, overconfident CEOs and empire building: Agency and stakeholder theoretic perspectives. Journal of Business Research, 111, 52–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.01.035

Habermann, F. (2021). Corporate social performance and over-investment: Evidence from Germany. Journal of Global Responsibility, 12(3), 347–363. https://doi.org/10.1108/JGR-11-2020-0095

Hadlock, C. J., & Pierce, J. R. (2010). New evidence on measuring financial constraints: Moving beyond the KZ index. The Review of Financial Studies, 23(5), 1909–1940. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhq009

Hammami, A., & Hendijani Zadeh, M. (2020). Audit quality, media coverage, environmental, social, and governance disclosure and firm investment efficiency: Evidence from Canada. International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, 28(1), 45–72. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-03-2019-0041

Harymawan, I., Nasih, M., Agustia, D., Putra, F. K. G., & Djajadikerta, H. G. (2022). Investment efficiency and environmental, social, and governance reporting: Perspective from corporate integration management. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 29(5), 1186–1202. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2263

Hoffmann, A., & Schnabl, G. (2011). A vicious cycle of manias, crises and asymmetric policy responses-an overinvestment view. The World Economy, 34(3), 382–403. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9701.2011.01334.x

Hongming, X., Ahmed, B., Hussain, A., Rehman, A., Ullah, I., & Khan, F. U. (2020). Sustainability reporting and firm performance: The demonstration of Pakistani firms. SAGE Open, 10(3), 2158244020953180. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020953180

Hu, J., Jiang, H., & Holmes, M. (2019). Government subsidies and corporate investment efficiency: Evidence from China. Emerging Markets Review, 41, 100658. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ememar.2019.100658

Imperiale, F., Pizzi, S., & Lippolis, S. (2023). Sustainability reporting and ESG performance in the utilities sector. Utilities Policy, 80, 101468. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2022.101468

Jiang, T., Wang, Z., Goto, S., & Zhang, F. (2020). CEO and CFO risk-taking incentives and earnings guidance. Applied Economics Letters, 27(15), 1256–1259. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504851.2019.1676865

Jonsdottir, B., Sigurjonsson, T. O., Johannsdottir, L., & Wendt, S. (2022). Barriers to using ESG data for investment decisions. Sustainability, 14(9), 5157. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095157

Khan, M. A. (2022). ESG disclosure and firm performance: A bibliometric and meta analysis. Research in International Business and Finance, 61, 101668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101668

Kong, Q., Peng, D., Ruijia, Z., & Wong, Z. (2021). Resource misallocation, production efficiency and outward foreign direct investment decisions of Chinese enterprises. Research in International Business and Finance, 55, 101343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101343

Kuzey, C., Uyar, A., & Karaman, A. S. (2023). Over-investment and ESG inequality. Review of Accounting and Finance, 22(3), 399–421. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAF-10-2022-0279

Lai, X., & Zhang, F. (2022). Can ESG certification help company get out of over-indebtedness? Evidence from China. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 76, 101878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2022.101878

Law, S. H., & Singh, N. (2014). Does too much finance harm economic growth? Journal of Banking & Finance, 41, 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.12.020

Leng, T. C., Liu, Y., Xiao, Y., & Hou, C. X. (2023). Does firm financialization affect optimal real investment decisions? Evidence from China. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 79, 101970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2023.101970

Li, H., Zhang, X., & Zhao, Y. (2022). ESG and firm’s default risk. Finance Research Letters, 47, 102713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.102713

Liu, T., Chen, X., & Yang, S. (2022). Economic policy uncertainty and enterprise investment decision: Evidence from China. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 75, 101859. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2022.101859

Lo, H.-C., & Shiah-Hou, S.-R. (2022). The effect of CEO power on overinvestment. Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, 59(1), 23–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11156-022-01060-0

Murphy, K. J. (1985). Corporate performance and managerial remuneration: An empirical analysis. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 7(1–3), 11–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(85)90026-6

Mutschmann, M., Hasso, T., & Pelster, M. (2021). Dark triad managerial personality and financial reporting manipulation. Journal of Business Ethics, 181, 763–788. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3669165

Myers, S. C., & Majluf, N. S. (1984). Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have. Journal of Financial Economics, 13(2), 187–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(84)90023-0

Naeem, K., & Li, M. C. (2019). Corporate investment efficiency: The role of financial development in firms with financing constraints and agency issues in OECD non-financial firms. International Review of Financial Analysis, 62, 53–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2019.01.003

Pellicani, A. D., & Kalatzis, A. E. G. (2019). Ownership structure, overinvestment and underinvestment: Evidence from Brazil. Research in International Business and Finance, 48, 475–482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2018.10.007

Richardson, S. (2006). Over-investment of free cash flow. Review of accounting studies, 11, 159–189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11142-006-9012-1

Shi, M. (2019). Overinvestment and corporate governance in energy listed companies: Evidence from China. Finance Research Letters, 30, 436–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2019.05.017

So, M. (2022). Analysis of the influence of enterprise managers’ overconfidence on the overinvestment behavior of listed companies under the media reports. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 1018189. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018189

Stocken, P. C., & Verrecchia, R. E. (2004). Financial reporting system choice and disclosure management. The Accounting Review, 79(4), 1181–1203. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2004.79.4.1181

Tang, C.-H., Lee, Y.-H., Lu, W.-Z., & Wei, L. (2022). The relationship between analyst coverage and overinvestment, and the mediating role of corporate governance: Evidence from China. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 24(4), 495–510. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427560.2022.2037601

Tang, Y., Wang, B., Pan, N., & Li, Z. (2023). The impact of environmental information disclosure on the cost of green bond: Evidence from China. Energy Economics, 126, 107008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2023.107008

Tettamanzi, P., Venturini, G., & Murgolo, M. (2022). Sustainability and financial accounting: A critical review on the ESG dynamics. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(11), 16758–16761. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-18596-2

Tobin, J. (1969). A general equilibrium approach to monetary theory. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 1(1), 15–29. https://doi.org/10.2307/1991374

Vo, X. V. (2019). Residual government ownership and corporate investment efficiency in privatised firms: Evidence from a transition country. Asian‐Pacific Economic Literature, 33(2), 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1111/apel.12270

Wang, Q. S., Lai, S., Pi, S., & Anderson, H. (2022). Does directors’ and officers’ liability insurance induce empire building? Evidence from corporate labor investment. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 73, 101753. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2022.101753

Wang, W., Sun, Z., Wang, W., Hua, Q., & Wu, F. (2023). The impact of environmental uncertainty on ESG performance: Emotional vs. rational. Journal of Cleaner Production, 397, 136528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136528

Wang, W., Yu, Y., & Li, X. (2022). ESG performance, auditing quality, and investment efficiency: Empirical evidence from China. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 948674. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.948674

Wang, Z., Lu, W., & Liu, M. (2021). Corporate social responsibility overinvestment in mergers and acquisitions. International Review of Financial Analysis, 78, 101944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2021.101944

Weiskirchner-Merten, K. (2022). Capital budgeting and managerial empire building. Accounting and Business Research, 53(4), 416–438. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2021.2021502

Welch, K., & Yoon, A. (2023). Do high-ability managers choose ESG projects that create shareholder value? Evidence from employee opinions. Review of Accounting Studies, 28, 2448 – 2475. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11142-022-09701-4

Wu, M., & Abeysekera, I. (2023). Financial reporting quality of ESG firms listed in China. PLoS ONE, 18(6), e0284684. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284684

Yu, X. L., & Xiao, K. T. (2022). Does ESG performance affect firm value? Evidence from a new ESG-scoring approach for Chinese enterprises. Sustainability, 14(24), 16940. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416940

Zhai, H., Yang, F., Gao, F., Sindakis, S., & Showkat, G. (2024). Digital transformation and over-investment: Exploring the role of rational decision-making and resource surplus in the knowledge economy. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 15(3), 14103–14134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-023-01569-2

Zhang, D., Cao, H., Dickinson, D. G., & Kutan, A. M. (2016). Free cash flows and overinvestment: Further evidence from Chinese energy firms. Energy Economics, 58, 116–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2016.06.018

Zhang, D., & Kong, Q. (2022). Do energy policies bring about corporate overinvestment? Empirical evidence from Chinese listed companies. Energy Economics, 105, 105718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105718

Zhang, X., Zhao, X., & He, Y. (2022). Does it pay to be responsible? The performance of ESG investing in China. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 58(11), 3048–3075. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2022.2026768

Zhang, Y.-J., & Wang, W. (2021). How does China’s carbon emissions trading (CET) policy affect the investment of CET-covered enterprises? Energy Economics, 98, 105224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105224

Zheng, H., & Aishan, W. (2023). ESG ratings and trade credit: Inverted U-shaped moderating role of information transparency and executives with overseas backgrounds. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30, 78554–78568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27729-0