ESG engagement, country-level political risk and bank liquidity creation

Abstract

This study explores the influence of banks' environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance and country-level risk factors on liquidity creation. Utilizing a distinctive sample of 2103 bank-year observations from 2000 to 2020 in Asia, the study finds that banks' ESG performance exerts a positive impact on bank liquidity creation. Furthermore, this relationship is more prominent in countries with high geopolitical risk and corruption risk and low levels of democratization. To address endogeneity concerns, a two-stage least squares regression is employed using two instrumental variables, and the findings remain robust. These findings have practical implications for banks and policymakers to consider a country's political risk when promoting ESG activities and facilitating liquidity creation.