ESG activities and financial stability: The case of Korean financial firms

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between financial firms' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities and their financial stability measured by Altman's Z-score. Based on a dataset of listed financial institutions in Korea, our results indicate a positive association between stability and ESG activities. Overall ESG scores and those for the individual environmental, social, and governance pillars potentially enhance financial stability. The environmental pillar plays the most significant role in improving the stability of financial firms. The positive association between ESG activities and financial firms' stability is also seen in nonbanking sectors.

Keywords

• G10
• G19
• G21