Do Titans Deliver the ESG Promise? Societal Recognition and Responsible Corporate Decisions
研究英国上市公司董事会成员的荣誉头衔（如贵族称号）对企业环境、社会和治理（ESG）表现的影响，发现拥有头衔的董事能提升ESG绩效，并产生积极的同侪效应。
Abstract Distinguished societal recognition can influence corporate decision‐makers to act responsibly. We exploit this unique sociological attribute of UK firm board members and examine the impact of honorary titles on the firm's environmental, social and governance (ESG) performances. Using the peerage and honorific titles of board members of public UK firms from 2002 to 2020, we demonstrate that firms wherein board members have a title of honour are associated with higher ESG performance. We also document a positive contagion effect of titleholders on other board members, which contributes to firms’ ESG performance. Our findings align with theories of resource dependence, upper echelons and peer effects postulations and highlight the importance of societal recognition in shaping corporate decisions towards sustainability.