Reexamining the relationship between ESG and firm performance: Evidence from the role of Buddhism

This study examines the relationship between environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) and firm performance, with a focus on the impact of Buddhism. Our findings suggest the following: (1) The local Buddhism environment weakens the positive relationship between ESG and firm performance, indicating that ESG practices motivated by internal altruism may not contribute to firm performance. (2) The moderating effect of Buddhism is more pronounced in firms with stronger alignment or monitoring, in which ESG practices are more likely to be motivated by the desire for profitability, i.e., privately owned firms and those with higher institutional ownership and media attention. (3) The attenuating effect of Buddhism's moderating role is observed in two categories of firms: those with heightened exposure to ESG-related risks and those operating in recent eras with a greater focus on ESG, which are more likely to benefit from ESG practices with greater external utility.