Sustainability and Corporate Performance in Health Care : ESG Implications for the European Industry

This book explores the multifaceted relationship between sustainability and corporate performance in health care by providing a review of the relevant policy and academic literature, together with novel quantitative evidence to support strategic and managerial decision-making. The book uniquely investigates whether and how improvements in sustainability-related activities and reporting, and respective ESG scores assigned by international rating agencies, are related to corporations’ economic and market performance. The potential development and expansion in private health care services and products, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, calls for a new paradigm in the health care industry. After introducing the reader to the social and policy context for sustainable development and to various normative and market instruments used to assess sustainability and corporate performance, the book presents the results of statistical analyses conducted on a representative sample of top health care companies listed in European capital markets and draws conclusions about the profitability and effectiveness of sustainability- and ESG-related investments. There’s a current debate about whether investing in sustainability not only fulfills ethical obligations but also drives long-term value. The empirical literature often presents conflicting findings, particularly when it comes to scholars’ relatively limited evaluation of the health care industry. The book sheds new light on this proposition and offers guidance on sustainable decision-making in health care, making it relevant for researchers and professionals.