Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Top Management Team Social Networks on the Homophily Effect of ESG Disclosure in Companies

Abstract

This study investigates the homophily effect in corporate information disclosure, specifically focusing on executive social networks. We analyze data from 385 privately listed companies in China’s Growth Enterprise Market between 2018 and 2021. An OLS regression model is employed to examine the presence of a homophily effect in ESG information disclosure by private enterprises, along with regional and industry variations. Additionally, we utilize a moderation effect model to assess the influence of executive social networks on the homophily effect of ESG information disclosure. We conduct robustness tests based on our findings. The results indicate a significant homophily effect in ESG information disclosure by private enterprises, with varying magnitudes across regions and industries. Furthermore, executive social networks positively moderate the homophily effect, suggesting that a more diverse social network among the executive team enhances the homophily effect of ESG information disclosure for private enterprises. These findings offer valuable insights for corporate low-carbon sustainable development.