The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology (문화기술의 융합)

The International Promotion Agency of Culture Technology (국제문화기술진흥원)
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A Study on the Impact of ESG Performance on Firm Risk

ESG 성과가 기업위험에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

  • Jung-Hyuck Choy (Dept. of Economics & Financial Asset Management, Hanyang Cyber Univ)
  • 최정혁 (한양사이버대학교 경제금융자산관리학과)
  • Received : 2023.02.06
  • Accepted : 2023.03.11
  • Published : 2023.05.31
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Abstract

The impact of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance on investors' decision-making is growing. Investors' focus on the financial performance of firms in the past is expanding to the non-financial performance of the interests of stakeholders surrounding firms. Against this backdrop, this study conducted a panel regression analysis on firms evaluated by Korea Corporate Governance Service to analyze the impact of ESG performance, a firm's non-financial performance, on firm risk. According to the analysis, ESG performance has a negative (-) effect on all three firm risks (systematic risk, unsystematic risk, and total risk), indicating that the stakeholder theory and risk management theory are supported. The implications of this study are: First, ESG reduces not only unsystematic risk but also broad and indiscriminate systematic risk; Second, investors can reduce the risk of their investment portfolio by executing ESG investments; Third, companies can achieve stable financial performance even in adverse circumstances by utilizing the insurance function of ESG management; Lastly, the government can enhance the stability of the financial market while improving the financial soundness of firms through reasonable ESG-related regulations.

환경·사회·지배구조(ESG) 성과가 투자자의 의사결정에 미치는 영향이 커지고 있다. 과거 기업의 재무적 성과에 집중하던 투자자의 시선이 기업을 둘러싼 이해관계자의 이익이라는 비재무적 성과로 확장하고 있는 것이다. 이런 배경에서 본 연구는 기업의 비재무적 성과인 ESG 성과가 기업위험에 미치는 영향을 분석하기 위해 한국기업지배구조원이 평가하는 기업을 대상으로 패널회귀분석을 실시하였다. 분석 결과 ESG 성과는 세 가지 기업위험(체계적위험, 비체계적위험, 총위험) 모두에 대해 음(-)의 영향을 미치고 있어 이해관계자이론과 위험관리이론을 지지하는 결과를 나타냈다. 본 연구의 시사점은 첫째, ESG는 비체계적위험 뿐만 아니라 광범위하고 무차별적인 체계적위험도 감소시키고, 둘째, 투자자는 ESG 투자를 집행함으로써 투자포트폴리오의 위험을 감소시킬 수 있고, 셋째, 기업은 ESG 경영의 보험기능을 활용함으로써 부정적인 상황에서도 안정적인 재무성과를 영위할 수 있으며, 마지막으로, 정부는 합리적인 ESG 관련 규제를 통해 기업의 재무적 건전성을 제고하면서 금융시장의 안정성을 높일 수 있다는 것이다.

Keywords

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