Impact and mechanism analysis of ESG ratings on the efficiency of green technology innovation

This study examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings affect the efficiency of green technology innovation using listed Chinese companies as a research sample. The results suggest that a higher ESG rating is beneficial for boosting the efficiency of corporate green technology innovation. The mechanism analysis reveals that the impact can be achieved by relaxing financial constraints and encouraging companies to take more risks. Moreover, heterogeneity analysis demonstrates that the impact of ESG ratings on green technology innovation varies significantly across industries. The findings shed light on how to maximize the impact of ESG ratings on green technology innovation efficiency.