Dissertation defence (Accounting and Finance): MSc Habeeb Yahya
Time
24.5.2024 at 12.00 - 16.00
MSc Habeeb Yahya defends the dissertation in Accounting and Finance titled “ESG AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF FIRMS: NORDIC EVIDENCE” at the University of Turku on 24 May 2024 at 12.00 (Turku School of Economics, Lähitapiola Lecture Hall, Rehtoripellonkatu 3, Turku).
The audience can participate in the defence by remote access: https://echo360.org.uk/section/46ac79a7-bf4a-4e31-a3a7-74bedd82b259/public
Opponent: Professor Sami Vähämaa (University of Vaasa)
Custos: Professor Mika Vaihekoski (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9693-3
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Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities in shaping the performance and value of companies. Research on the relationship between ESG practices and financial performance has resulted in varied findings. While some studies suggest a positive association between strong ESG practices and financial outperformance, the evidence is not unequivocal. The mixed findings highlight the complexity of this relationship and factors such as industry dynamics, measurement methodologies, regional variations, and the timeframe of analysis can all influence the observed relationship. Therefore, ongoing research is necessary to further understand the mechanisms underlying the link between ESG and financial performance, as well as to explore how contextual factors may shape this relationship.
In my dissertation, I explored the relationship between companies ESG practices and their financial performance in Nordic countries. I found that companies with strong ESG practices tend to perform better financially and are valued more by investors. Even during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, these companies showed resilience and continued to perform well, demonstrating the importance of sustainability practices in driving long-term value. Additionally, I investigated how the owners of these companies influence their ESG performance. I discovered that companies with long-term owners who prioritize sustainability tend to perform better in ESG areas compared to those with short-term owners. This highlights the impact of ownership structure on sustainability practices and suggests that having long-term owners who focus on sustainability can lead to better ESG performance.
Overall, my research underscores the significance of sustainability practices for companies success and their ability to create value over the long term. By emphasizing the importance of ESG activities in driving financial performance and investor valuation, especially in Nordic countries these practices are highly valued, my dissertation contributes to the understanding of how sustainable business practices can benefit both companies and investors in todays global economy.
The audience can participate in the defence by remote access: https://echo360.org.uk/section/46ac79a7-bf4a-4e31-a3a7-74bedd82b259/public
Opponent: Professor Sami Vähämaa (University of Vaasa)
Custos: Professor Mika Vaihekoski (University of Turku)
Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9693-3
***
Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:
In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities in shaping the performance and value of companies. Research on the relationship between ESG practices and financial performance has resulted in varied findings. While some studies suggest a positive association between strong ESG practices and financial outperformance, the evidence is not unequivocal. The mixed findings highlight the complexity of this relationship and factors such as industry dynamics, measurement methodologies, regional variations, and the timeframe of analysis can all influence the observed relationship. Therefore, ongoing research is necessary to further understand the mechanisms underlying the link between ESG and financial performance, as well as to explore how contextual factors may shape this relationship.
In my dissertation, I explored the relationship between companies ESG practices and their financial performance in Nordic countries. I found that companies with strong ESG practices tend to perform better financially and are valued more by investors. Even during challenging times like the COVID-19 pandemic, these companies showed resilience and continued to perform well, demonstrating the importance of sustainability practices in driving long-term value. Additionally, I investigated how the owners of these companies influence their ESG performance. I discovered that companies with long-term owners who prioritize sustainability tend to perform better in ESG areas compared to those with short-term owners. This highlights the impact of ownership structure on sustainability practices and suggests that having long-term owners who focus on sustainability can lead to better ESG performance.
Overall, my research underscores the significance of sustainability practices for companies success and their ability to create value over the long term. By emphasizing the importance of ESG activities in driving financial performance and investor valuation, especially in Nordic countries these practices are highly valued, my dissertation contributes to the understanding of how sustainable business practices can benefit both companies and investors in todays global economy.
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