TITLE:
The Role of ESG Performance in the Capital Structure-Market Competition Nexus: Some Evidence from Japan
AUTHORS:
Ioannis Chasiotis, Georgios Georgakopoulos, Anthony Rezitis, Kanellos Toudas
KEYWORDS:
Capital Structure, Market Competition, ESG, Predation Models, Limited Liability Models
JOURNAL NAME:
Theoretical Economics Letters,
Vol.13 No.3,
June
29,
2023
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the relationship between market competition and
capital structure and the respective role of
ESG performance. Using 5112 firm-year observations
from firms listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange between 2002 and 2020, we
document a negative relationship between market competition and capital structure.
Also, we find that ESG performance moderates this relationship. Our findings
support the “deep pocket” theory of predation and emphasize the benefits of a
superior ESG performance.