ESG and financial performance: A qualitative comparative analysis in China's new energy companies

The relationship between environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and corporate financial performance (CFP) has received much attention. Previous studies have mainly focused on the net effects of ESG on CFP, i.e., emphasizing the individual impact of the overall ESG level or each ESG pillar on CFP. However, there is a complex causal relationship between ESG and CFP, and different combinations of ESG pillars may have a differential impact on CFP. Based on configuration theory, this paper aims to analyze how the different configurations of the ESG pillars impact CFP using the longitudinal fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) approach. Using a sample of listed new energy companies in China from 2016 to 2020, we identified two configurations that generate high CFP and four that generate low CFP. The social pillar is a determinant in generating high CFP outcomes, and it has shown stability in its configuration across time. The study will contribute to guiding new energy companies to strengthen their corporate social responsibility practices and expand the application of the fsQCA in longitudinal datasets.