Does Corporate ESG Performance Help Ease Financing Constraints in the Context of Green Development?-Empirical Evidence from China

This study empirically investigates the relationship between corporate ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance and financing constraints for a sample of non-financial listed companies in China A-shares from 2011-2021. Research findings show that corporate ESG performance could mitigate corporate financing constraints, with a more significant effect on non-state-controlled enterprises, enterprises with low financial leverage, and enterprises with a high proportion of independent directors. Moreover, the study reveals a masking effect of corporate financialization on the relationship between ESG performance and financing constraints and a mediating effect of corporate management ownership and equity concentration on the relationship between corporate ESG performance and financing constraints. These findings give policymakers and practitioners insights into the relationship between ESG performance and corporate finance constraints. Practical applications to steer the financial sector in a more sustainable and robust direction are also proposed.