디지털 변혁과 중국 상장 회사의 ESG 성과에 미치는 영향에 대한 실증적 연구: 리더십 구조의 전략적 중요성과 ESG 성과 강화

With the rise of the digital economy and the growing global focus on sustainable development, the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance of corporations is increasingly regarded as critical by stakeholders. Particularly in emerging markets like China, understanding how digital transformation influences a firm's sustainability and competitiveness across ESG is essential. In this context, this study examines the impact of digital transformation on the ESG performance of Chinese listed firms. The study analyzes data from 3,860 Chinese A-share listed companies between 2009 and 2022. Through comprehensive analysis and robustness checks, the study finds that digital transformation significantly improves corporate ESG performance, especially in larger and younger firms. However, the study also identifies that dual leadership structures may have a negative effect on ESG performance. This suggests that centralized decision-making and management homogeneity could hinder the effective implementation of digital strategies. By providing empirical evidence from the perspective of the digital economy and corporate governance in Chinese firms, this research offers valuable insights into how firm characteristics and leadership structures contribute to leveraging digital transformation for enhanced ESG performance in China.