ESG Investments and Risks: Corporate, Financial Institutions and Public Policies

Dear Colleagues,

We invite contributions from scholars and policymakers to provide a comprehensive analysis of how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments and risks are reshaping the financial landscape. This Special Issue aims to offer valuable insights into the evolving role of ESG considerations in finance.

ESG investments are becoming central to the strategies of corporations, financial institutions, and policymakers. This Special Issue will explore the impact of ESG considerations on investment decisions, risk management, and governance practices.

Investor behavior is shifting towards sustainable finance, driven by a growing awareness of ESG and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) principles. Traditional and innovative financial instruments and tools are being employed to integrate ESG factors into risk management, enhancing the ability of banks and financial institutions to evaluate and manage these risks effectively.

Public policies play a crucial role in promoting sustainable practices, providing the necessary incentives and frameworks to support ESG investments. These policies are essential in encouraging impact investing and the financing of sustainable projects, ensuring that capital is directed towards initiatives that generate both financial returns and positive social and environmental impacts.

Business strategies are increasingly aligned with sustainability goals, incorporating ESG factors into corporate finance and entrepreneurial finance. This alignment not only enhances corporate reputation and compliance but also drives long-term value creation. ESG ratings are becoming a critical metric for assessing corporate sustainability, influencing investor decisions and corporate behavior.

Governance practices are also evolving to incorporate ESG factors, with a focus on ESG ratings, gender parity, and board composition. These elements are essential for ensuring that corporate strategies are aligned with sustainability goals and ethical standards. Diverse and inclusive board compositions contribute to more balanced and effective governance.

Research areas for this Special Issue may include (but are not limited to) the following topics:

• The influence of investor behavior on sustainable finance, ESG investments, and capital structure;
• The integration of ESG factors into risk management through traditional and innovative financial instruments and tools;
• The role of ESG practices in high-risk circumstances (climate change, natural disasters, pandemics, etc.);
• The impact of ESG practices on the performance of corporations and financial institutions;
• The impact of business strategies on sustainability and the integration of ESG principles into corporate finance;
• The effectiveness of ESG ratings in evaluating corporate sustainability and influencing investment decisions;
• The rise of impact investing and innovative financing methods in advancing sustainable finance;
• The role of public policies in promoting sustainable practices and supporting ESG investments;
• The influence of gender on corporate governance and decision making.

Dr. Andrea Bellucci
Dr. Gianluca Gucciardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Risk and Financial Management is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• investor behavior and sustainable finance
• ESG and CSR
• traditional and innovative financial instruments and tools
• ESG factors’ integration into risk management
• the role of public policies in promoting sustainable practices
• business strategies and sustainability
• impact investing and financing