National Culture and the Value Implications of Corporate Environmental and Social Performance

Abstract

We examine why environmental and social (E/S) performance vary across countries and firms, and evaluate the value implications. Using a sample of 33,021 firm-year observations representing 4,587 firms from 43 countries over the 2003–2015 period and applying hierarchical linear modeling, we find that individualism is positively associated with firm-level E/S performance. We show that two country-level channels—freedom of the press and protection of equal rights—and three firm-level channels—managerial discretion, board diversity, and corporate transparency—link individualism to E/S performance. We find a positive association between firm-level E/S performance and firm value, with three firm-level channels—cash flows, cash flow variability, and cost of equity—linking E/S performance to firm value. This positive association is stronger in more individualistic countries. Finally, we find that internationalization weakens the role of national culture; however, it accentuates the positive association between firm-level E/S performance and firm value.

Keywords: individualism; national culture; environmental performance; social performance; firm value; internationalization; hierarchical linear model

JEL Classification: G18; G31; G32