Prediction of Controversies and Estimation of ESG Performance : An Experimental Investigation Using Machine Learning

• We develop a new methodology for computing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings using a mode of artificial intelligence (AI) called machine learning (ML) to make ESG more transparent. The ML algorithms anchor our rating methodology in controversies related to non-compliance with corporate social responsibility (CSR). This methodology is consistent with the information needs of institutional investors and is the first ESG methodology with predictive validity. Our best model predicts what companies are likely to experience controversies. It has a precision of 70–84 per cent and high predictive performance on several measures. It also provides evidence of what indicators contribute the most to the predicted likelihood of experiencing an ESG controversy. Furthermore, while the common approach of rating companies is to aggregate indicators using the arithmetic average, which is a simple explanatory model designed to describe an average company, the proposed rating methodology uses state-of-the-art AI technology to aggregate ESG indicators into holistic ratings for the predictive modelling of individual company performance.Predictive modelling using ML enables our models to aggregate the information contained in ESG indicators with far less information loss than with the predominant aggregation method.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Annan data- och informationsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Other Computer and Information Science (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Data- och informationsvetenskap -- Datavetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Computer and Information Sciences -- Computer Sciences (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Artificial Intelligence

Controversies

Corporate Social Performance

ESG

Machine Learning

Socially Responsible Investment

data- och systemvetenskap

Computer and Systems Sciences

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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