Assessing the Impact of ESG Factors on Firm Performance: Empirical Evidence from CRIP Sector

Abstract

In recent times, managers and politicians have been impacted by key variables such as ethics, corporate governance, and ESG, leading to investment choices and the establishment of strong rules. There is an increasing focus on the understanding of environmental stability and the socio-economic growth of nation-states, which has led to the priority of sustainable and responsible investment methods. Nevertheless, there remains a void in investigating the CSR- and associated corporate characteristics that impact business performance The main purpose of the current research is to explore the influence of ESG factors on company performance, with a special emphasis on the Infrastructure, Construction, Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Project (CRIP) sectors. The research employed the Crisil ESG database, providing comprehensive financial data and ESG ratings of 42 organizations. Fixed effect panel regression was performed to evaluate the impact of ESG disclosure on company performance. The data revealed that the combined ESG score has a positive and large effect on the (WACC) Weighted Average Cost of Capital. The findings from the study are meant to aid varied stakeholders for policy-making and strategic decision-making in the Indian CRIP business. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.