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This paper explores the connection between capital structure and financial performance within European listed firms. The primary objective is to demonstrate an inverse U-shaped relationship between these two variables and pinpoint an optimal debt-equity mix.

In this study, we adopt a dynamic modeling approach to investigate the relationship between a firm’s capital structure and financial performance. Drawing on well-established theories and prior empirical studies, our model examines 3,121 dividend-paying firms from 41 European countries over 14 years, from 2008 to 2021. To enhance the reliability of our findings, we employ two distinct estimation techniques: the fixed effect model (FE) and the system generalized method of moments (System-GMM).

This study reveals an inverse U-shaped relationship between the firm’s financial performance, measured by the return on equity (ROE) and its capital structure (total liability to total assets ratio). Furthermore, an optimal capital structure of about 29% is determined for all firms in the sample, and about 21%, 28% and 41% industry-specific capital structure for manufacturing, real estate and wholesale trade, respectively.

This paper contributes to existing knowledge by empirically determining an optimal capital structure for listed firms across various industries in Europe, which very few studies have attempted to do in the past. An optimal capital structure is an invaluable benchmark for managers and other stakeholders, informing their decision-making.

This paper systematically analyzes the literature on environmental, social and governance (ESG). It explores the antecedents, decisions and outcomes (ADO) influencing ESG investments; theories used in the literature; publication years, geographical locations and journals of publication of ESG-related articles; notable gaps in research on ESG investments; theoretical and managerial implications and prospective research avenues within the ESG field. All ESG components are interconnected with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The PRISMA framework was employed to screen articles from the Scopus database. A total of 386 articles spanning 2011–2024 were included. The search terms used to screen the articles for inclusion were “sustainable finance,” “ESG,” “environment, social, corporate governance,” “green finance,” “green bond,” “social bond,” “blue bond,” “social finance” and “corporate social responsibility.”

The findings indicate that organizations utilize green bonds, blue bonds and green loans to mitigate environmental concerns. To address social issues, companies issue social bonds and sustainable bonds and engage in socially responsible investing. To address concerns about corporate governance, companies emphasize corporate social responsibility and intellectual capital.

The findings can be used to inform policymakers on the implementation of comprehensive regulatory frameworks in the realm of ESG. Tax benefits and subsidies should be extended to firms fostering ESG practices.

This study offers a comprehensive synthesis of the ESG literature by examining the ADO framework, which has not been systematically applied to ESG investments before. It integrates diverse components of ESG investments with the United Nations’ SDGs, providing a unique perspective on how these investments align with global sustainability objectives.

This study analyses the impact of the Covid-19 on stock market performance of BRICS nations together. BRICS countries comprise almost 30% of the global GDP and around 50% of the world’s economic growth. As BRICS nations have gained the attraction as financial investment destinations, their financial markets have apparently been as potential opportunities for foreign portfolio investors. While there is extensive research on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on individual economies and global financial markets, this paper is among the first to systematically investigate the dynamic connectedness of these emerging economies during the pandemic using the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressions (TVP-VAR) approach.

We categorise our data into two distinct periods: the pre-Covid period spanning from January 1, 2018, to March 10, 2020, and the Covid crisis period extending from March 11, 2020, to June 4, 2021. To achieve our research objectives, we employ the Time-Varying Parameter Vector Autoregressions (TVP-VAR) approach to assess dynamic connectedness.

Our findings reveal that among the BRICS nations, Brazil and South Africa serve as net transmitters of shocks, while China and India act as net receivers of shocks during the Covid crisis. However, the total connectedness index (TCI) has exhibited a notable increase throughout this crisis period. This paper makes several notable contributions to the academic literature by offering a unique focus on BRICS economies during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing practical insights for stakeholders, emphasising the importance of risk management and investment strategy, exploring diversification implications and introducing advanced methodology for analysing interconnected financial markets.

The results have important implications for the investors, the hedge funds, portfolio managers and the policymakers in BRICS stock markets. The investors, investment houses, portfolio managers and policymakers can develop investment strategies and policies in the light of the findings of this study to cope up the future pandemic crisis.

This study is one of its kind that examines the dynamic connectedness of BRICS with recently developed TVP-VAR approach across pandemic crisis.