Skip to main content
Log in

Assessing the Impact of Policy Uncertainty, Geopolitical Risk, and Sustainable Disclosure on Corporate Performance

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Asia-Pacific Financial Markets Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study explores the impact of policy uncertainty, geopolitical risk, and sustainable disclosure (ESG) on corporate performance for the period 2014–21 across 23 countries. Using the System GMM technique, it uncovers a negative link between policy uncertainty, geopolitical risk, and corporate performance. Sustainable disclosure mitigates the influence of economic uncertainty and geopolitical risk on firm performance. The results are robust across the various other econometric methods (i.e. fixed effect, random effect and feasible generalized least squares) and alternative proxy used for sustainability disclosure. These findings have implications for policymakers and managers, highlighting the importance of aligning policies with sustainable disclosure practices. This study contributes to the literature by examining these factors on a cross-country scale, potentially among the first of its kind.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adra, S., Gao, Y., Huang, J., & Yuan, J. (2023). Geopolitical risk and corporate payout policy. International Review of Financial Analysis, 87, 102613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agoraki, M. E. K., Kouretas, G. P., & Laopodis, N. T. (2022). Geopolitical risks, uncertainty, and stock market performance. Economic and Political Studies, 10(3), 253–265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahir, H., Bloom, N., & Furceri, D. (2022). Years of uncertainty. Finance & Development, 57(1), 58–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahsan, T., Al-Gamrh, B., & Mirza, S. S. (2022). Economic policy uncertainty and sustainable financial growth: Does business strategy matter? Finance Research Letters, 46, 102381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahsan, T., Mirza, S. S., Al-Gamrh, B., Bin-Feng, C., & Rao, Z. U. R. (2021). How to deal with policy uncertainty to attain sustainable growth: the role of corporate governance. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, 21(1), 78–91.

  • Ahsan, T., & Qureshi, M. A. (2021). The nexus between policy uncertainty, sustainability disclosure, and firm performance. Applied Economics, 53(4), 441–453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alam, A. W., Houston, R., & Farjana, A. (2023). Geopolitical risk and corporate investment: How do politically connected firms respond? Finance Research Letters, 53, 103681.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arellano, M., & Bond, S. (1991). Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. The Review of Economic Studies, 58(2), 277–297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arellano, M., & Bover, O. (1995). Another look at the instrumental variable estimation of error-components models. Journal of Econometrics, 68(1), 29–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arouri, M., Estay, C., Rault, C., & Roubaud, D. (2016). Economic policy uncertainty and stock markets: Long-run evidence from the US. Finance Research Letters, 18, 136–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashwin Kumar, N. C., Smith, C., Badis, L., Wang, N., Ambrosy, P., & Tavares, R. (2016). ESG factors and risk-adjusted performance: A new quantitative model. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 6(4), 292–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atif, M., & Ali, S. (2021). Environmental, social and governance disclosure and default risk. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(8), 3937–3959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azqueta-Gavaldón, A. (2017). Developing news-based economic policy uncertainty index with unsupervised machine learning. Economics Letters, 158, 47–50.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Azzimonti, M. (2018). Partisan conflict and private investment. Journal of Monetary Economics, 93, 114–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bahadori, N., Kaymak, T., & Seraj, M. (2021). Environmental, social, and governance factors in emerging markets: The impact on firm performance. Business Strategy & Development, 4(4), 411–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S. R., Bloom, N., & Davis, S. J. (2016). Measuring economic policy uncertainty. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 131(4), 1593–1636.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltagi, B. H., Feng, Q., & Kao, C. (2012). A Lagrange Multiplier test for cross-sectional dependence in a fixed effects panel data model. Journal of Econometrics, 170(1), 164–177.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Bernanke, B. S. (1983). Irreversibility, uncertainty, and cyclical investment. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 98(1), 85–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blundell, R., & Bond, S. (1998). Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models. Journal of Econometrics, 87(1), 115–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaime, A., Gulen, H., & Ion, M. (2018). Does policy uncertainty affect mergers and acquisitions? Journal of Financial Economics, 129(3), 531–558.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boubakri, N., & Ghouma, H. (2010). Control/ownership structure, creditor rights protection, and the cost of debt financing: International evidence. Journal of Banking & Finance, 34(10), 2481–2499.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brammer, S., Jackson, G., & Matten, D. (2012). Corporate social responsibility and institutional theory: New perspectives on private governance. Socio-Economic Review, 10(1), 3–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brammer, S., & Pavelin, S. (2008). Factors influencing the quality of corporate environmental disclosure. Business Strategy and the Environment, 17(2), 120–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breusch, T. S., & Pagan, A. R. (1980). The Lagrange multiplier test and its applications to model specification in econometrics. The Review of Economic Studies, 47(1), 239–253.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Brunnermeier, M. K., & Pedersen, L. H. (2009). Market liquidity and funding liquidity. The Review of Financial Studies, 22(6), 2201–2238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caldara, D., & Iacoviello, M. (2022). Measuring geopolitical risk. American Economic Review, 112(4), 1194–1225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, P. F., Lee, C. C., & Zeng, J. H. (2019). Economic policy uncertainty and firm investment: Evidence from the US market. Applied Economics, 51(31), 3423–3435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, B., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). Corporate social responsibility and access to finance. Strategic Management Journal, 35(1), 1–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chudik, A., & Pesaran, M. H. (2015). Common correlated effects estimation of heterogeneous dynamic panel data models with weakly exogenous regressors. Journal of Econometrics, 188(2), 393–420.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Çolak, G., Gungoraydinoglu, A., & Öztekin, Ö. (2018). Global leverage adjustments, uncertainty, and country institutional strength. Journal of Financial Intermediation, 35, 41–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai, L., & Zhang, B. (2019). Political uncertainty and finance: A survey. Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies, 48(3), 307–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demir, E., & Ersan, O. (2017). Economic policy uncertainty and cash holdings: Evidence from BRIC countries. Emerging Markets Review, 33, 189–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eccles, R. G., Serafeim, G., & Krzus, M. P. (2011). Market interest in nonfinancial information. Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 23(4), 113–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng, X., Luo, W., & Wang, Y. (2021). Economic policy uncertainty and firm performance: Evidence from China. Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy. https://doi.org/10.1080/13547860.2021.1962643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gelb, D. S., & Strawser, J. A. (2001). Corporate social responsibility and financial disclosures: An alternative explanation for increased disclosure. Journal of Business Ethics, 33, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goddard, J., Tavakoli, M., & Wilson, J. O. (2005). Determinants of profitability in European manufacturing and services: Evidence from a dynamic panel model. Applied Financial Economics, 15(18), 1269–1282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godfrey, P. C., Merrill, C. B., & Hansen, J. M. (2009). The relationship between corporate social responsibility and shareholder value: An empirical test of the risk management hypothesis. Strategic Management Journal, 30(4), 425–445.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graves, S. B., & Waddock, S. A. (2000). Beyond built to last… stakeholder relations in “built-to-last” companies. Business and Society Review, 105(4), 393–418.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gujarati, D. (2003). Basic Econometrics, 4th edition McGraw Hill.

  • Gulen, H., & Ion, M. (2016). Policy uncertainty and corporate investment. The Review of Financial Studies, 29(3), 523–564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta, A. K., & Gupta, N. (2020). Effect of corporate environmental sustainability on dimensions of firm performance–Towards sustainable development: Evidence from India. Journal of Cleaner Production, 253, 119948.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halbritter, G., & Dorfleitner, G. (2015). The wages of social responsibility: Where are they? A critical review of ESG investing. Review of Financial Economics, 26, 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamrouni, A., Boussaada, R., & Toumi, N. B. F. (2019). Corporate social responsibility disclosure and debt financing. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 20(4), 394–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Higginson, N., Simmons, C., & Warsame, H. (2006). Environmental disclosure and legitimation in the annual report-Evidence from the joint solutions project. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 8(2), 3–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilal, O. A., & Tantawy, A. A. (2022). Entrepreneurial marketing and bank performance in Egypt: Is environmental turbulence a missing link? Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 14(2), 252–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iqbal, U., Gan, C., & Nadeem, M. (2020). Economic policy uncertainty and firm performance. Applied Economics Letters, 27(10), 765–770.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, H., & Okada, K. (2011). How does environmental performance affect financial performance? Evidence from Japanese manufacturing firms. Ecological Economics, 70(9), 1691–1700.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, Y., Tian, G., Wu, Y., & Mo, B. (2022). Impacts of geopolitical risks and economic policy uncertainty on Chinese tourism-listed company stock. International Journal of Finance & Economics, 27(1), 320–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W., Lee, K., & Ratti, R. A. (2014). Economic policy uncertainty and firm-level investment. Journal of Macroeconomics, 39, 42–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, W., & Ratti, R. A. (2013). Oil shocks, policy uncertainty, and stock market return. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 26, 305–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khoo, J., & Cheung, A. (2022). Managerial ability and trade credit. Financial Review, 57(2), 429–451.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S., & Chang, S. (2022). Construction project level-based environmental, social, and governance (C-ESG): A review. EPiC Series in Built Environment, 3, 236–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koh, H. K., Burnasheva, R., & Suh, Y. G. (2022). Perceived ESG (environmental, social, governance) and consumers’ responses: The mediating role of brand credibility, Brand Image, and perceived quality. Sustainability, 14(8), 4515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koh, P. S., Qian, C., & Wang, H. (2014). Firm litigation risk and the insurance value of corporate social performance. Strategic Management Journal, 35(10), 1464–1482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kothari, S., & Maneenop, S. (2020). Geopolitical risk and corporate cash holdings in the shipping industry. Transportation Research Part e: Logistics and Transportation Review, 136, 101862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le, A. T., & Tran, T. P. (2021). Does geopolitical risk matter for corporate investment? Evidence from emerging countries in Asia. Journal of Multinational Financial Management, 62, 100703.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, G., & Zhang, C. (2020). Economic policy uncertainty and firms’ investment and financing decisions in China. China Economic Review, 63, 101279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lokuwaduge, C. S. D. S., & Heenetigala, K. (2017). Integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosure for a sustainable development: An Australian study. Business Strategy and the Environment, 26(4), 438–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maneenop, S., Pringpong, S., & Jaroenjitrkam, A. (2023). Geopolitical risk and firm value: Evidence from emerging markets. The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, 63, 101951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meinen, P., & Röhe, O. (2017). On measuring uncertainty and its impact on investment: Cross-country evidence from the euro area. European Economic Review, 92, 161–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mirza, S. S., & Ahsan, T. (2020). Corporates’ strategic responses to economic policy uncertainty in China. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(2), 375–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mittal, S. K. (2019). Impact of corporate governance disclosure policy on firm performance on Sensex listed 30 companies. Journal of Commerce and Accounting Research, 8(2), 20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oanh, H. K., & Hoang, K. (2020). The bright side of geopolitical risk: Evidence from Chinese firms. Journal of Financial Economic Policy, 13(3), 353–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OECD, O. (2004). The OECD principles of corporate governance. Contaduría y Administración, (216).

  • Ozdemir, O., Erkmen, E., & Han, W. (2023). EPU and financial performance in the hospitality and tourism industry: Moderating effect of CSR, institutional ownership and cash holding. Tourism Management, 98, 104769.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, J. S., & Newaz, M. K. (2018). Do terrorist attacks harm financial markets? A meta-analysis of event studies and the determinants of adverse impact. Global Finance Journal, 37, 227–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pástor, Ľ, & Veronesi, P. (2013). Political uncertainty and risk premia. Journal of Financial Economics, 110(3), 520–545.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng, C., & Chau, K. Y. (2023). Independent audit quality and corporate cash holdings. Finance Research Letters, 58, 104405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pereira da Silva, P. (2020). Crash Risk and ESG Disclosure Quality. Available at SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3791264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pesaran, M. H. (2021). General diagnostic tests for cross-sectional dependence in panels. Empirical Economics, 60(1), 13–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phan, D. H. B., Iyke, B. N., Sharma, S. S., & Affandi, Y. (2021). Economic policy uncertainty and financial stability–Is there a relation? Economic Modelling, 94, 1018–1029.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phan, D. H. B., Tran, V. T., & Iyke, B. N. (2022). Geopolitical risk and bank stability. Finance Research Letters, 46, 102453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, P., Sivasankaran, N., Paul, S., & Kannadhasan, M. (2019). Measuring impact of working capital efficiency on financial performance of a firm: An alternative approach. Journal of Indian Business Research, 11(1), 75–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi, M. A., Kirkerud, S., Theresa, K., & Ahsan, T. (2020). The impact of sustainability (environmental, social, and governance) disclosure and board diversity on firm value: The moderating role of industry sensitivity. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(3), 1199–1214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rjiba, H., Jahmane, A., & Abid, I. (2020). Corporate social responsibility and firm value: Guiding through economic policy uncertainty. Finance Research Letters, 35, 101553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roodman, D. (2009). How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system GMM in Stata. The Stata Journal, 9(1), 86–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schadewitz, H., & Niskala, M. (2010). Communication via responsibility reporting and its effect on firm value in Finland. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 17(2), 96–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shane, P. B., & Spicer, B. H. (1983). Market response to environmental information produced outside the firm. Accounting Review, 521–538.

  • Shen, H., Liang, Y., Li, H., Liu, J., & Lu, G. (2021). Does geopolitical risk promote mergers and acquisitions of listed companies in energy and electric power industries. Energy Economics, 95, 105115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Z., & Sarkis, J. (2017). Corporate social responsibility governance, outcomes, and financial performance. Journal of Cleaner Production, 162, 1607–1616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, W. C., Batten, J. A., Mohamed-Arshad, S. B., Nordin, S., & Adzis, A. A. (2021). Does ESG certification add firm value? Finance Research Letters, 39, 101593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Xie, J., Nozawa, W., Yagi, M., Fujii, H., & Managi, S. (2019). Do environmental, social, and governance activities improve corporate financial performance? Business Strategy and the Environment, 28(2), 286–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yu, E. P. Y., Guo, C. Q., & Luu, B. V. (2018). Environmental, social and governance transparency and firm value. Business Strategy and the Environment, 27(7), 987–1004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, G., Liu, L., & Luo, S. (2022). Sustainable development, ESG performance and company market value: Mediating effect of financial performance. Business Strategy and the Environment, 31(7), 3371–3387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Siddhartha Barman.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Barman, S., Mahakud, J. Assessing the Impact of Policy Uncertainty, Geopolitical Risk, and Sustainable Disclosure on Corporate Performance. Asia-Pac Financ Markets (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10690-024-09450-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10690-024-09450-1

Keywords

Navigation