Empowering ESG Success: The Role of Data Marketization in Corporate Performance

Junkai Wang

No 42, CAFE Working Papers from Centre for Accountancy, Finance and Economics (CAFE), Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University

Abstract: This study examines the impact of data factor marketization on the ESG performance of companies listed in the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share markets in China. An empirical analysis of data from 2009 to 2022 reveals that the marketization of data factors significantly enhances corporate ESG performance, with more pronounced effects observed in heavily polluting and non-high-tech enterprises. The positive influence of data factor marketization on ESG performance is mediated through mechanisms such as promoting digital transformation, alleviating financing constraints, and reducing agency costs. Furthermore, the research uncovers the heterogeneous effects of data factor marketization across different regions and corporate characteristics, with companies in regions with higher marketization levels and the eastern part of China benefiting more significantly. This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the relationship between data factor marketization and corporate ESG performance, constructing a comprehensive analytical framework that extends the application boundaries of ESG theory in the big data era. It provides theoretical and empirical support for government policy-making and corporate strategic planning.

Keywords: Data factor marketization; Corporate ESG performance; Digital transformation; Financing constraints; Agency costs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026-04-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cna
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/17235/1/CAFE_WP_42_1_.pdf

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:akf:cafewp:42

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in CAFE Working Papers from Centre for Accountancy, Finance and Economics (CAFE), Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University Birmingham City Business School, The Curzon Building, 4 Cardigan Street, Birmingham, B4 7BD, United Kingdom. Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Research Publications Librarian ().