Green bond as a new determinant of sustainable green financing, energy efficiency investment, and economic growth: a global perspective

The purpose of the study is to test the role of green bond financing on energy efficiency investment and economic growth. To achieve the study objective, fuzzy decision-making modeling technique is applied. The results revealed that bank loans are now the main source of financing for energy efficiency projects. Project-based financing might be replaced with Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) warranting energy efficiency investment. Moreover, green banks invest both public and private funds in energy efficiency promoting economic growth. The usage of green bonds for financing environmentally beneficial projects or companies is limitless. Providing for screening energy efficiency investment proposals with small payback hurdle rates might have large opportunity costs. Green bonds can be used to remove the financing barriers for green finance and sustainability tool. On this, study provides policy implications to key stakeholders; if suggested policy suggestions implemented successfully, these would help to enhance scope of green bond financing to uplift energy efficiency financing and green growth successfully.

The Relationship Between CEO Duality and Business Firms' Performance: The Moderating Role of Firm Size and Corporate Social Responsibility

This study focuses on exploring the relationship between chief executive officer (CEO) duality and firm performance. We focus on how the size and corporate social responsibility (CSR) of firms moderate this relationship. In terms of size, business organizations are of two types: small and large firms. This study uses datasets of listed Chinese business firms included in the China Stock Market and Accounting Research database. It employs a generalized method of moment's technique to explore the connection between CEO duality and the performance of Chinese business firms through double mediation effects. Our empirical analysis showed that CEO duality has a significant negative relationship with firm performance. We also explored the moderating effects of firm size (small and large) and CSR practices on the relationship between CEO duality and improved performance of Chinese firms. Large firms and CSR practices showed significant and positive moderating effects on the relationship between CEO duality and firm performance. Conversely, with CEO duality, small firms showed a negative moderating influence on firm performance. This inclusive model provides valuable insights into how the dual role of the CEO of a firm affected the performance of Chinese firms through the moderating role of CSR practices and firm size for better business performance. The study offers empirical and theoretical contributions to the corporate governance literature. This research framework might help researchers in designing robust strategies to evaluate the effects on firm performance. Researchers may gain helpful insights using this methodology.