Digital transformation and ESG performance: the role of state ownership

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of digital transformation on firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and examines how state ownership moderates this relationship. It aims to clarify whether digital capabilities enhance sustainability outcomes across different ownership structures in an emerging market context. The analysis draws on a panel dataset of industrial manufacturing firms listed in Vietnam from 2018 to 2024. Digital transformation is measured using a text-based index derived from annual reports, constructed through keyword frequency analysis. ESG performance is proxied by ESG disclosure, quantified using the term frequency-inverse document frequency method. Panel regression models with interaction terms assess the moderating effect of state ownership, while subgroup analyses examine heterogeneity across ownership forms. Digital transformation has a significant positive influence on ESG performance. However, this effect appears to be less pronounced for state-owned enterprises, suggesting that institutional and governance characteristics may attenuate firms’ ability to translate digital investments into sustainability outcomes. The findings offer insights for policymakers and managers seeking to align digital strategies with sustainability objectives. Enhancing ESG reporting regulations, fostering digital–ESG integration and improving governance mechanisms in state-owned firms may amplify the sustainability benefits of digital transformation. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence on the digital transformation–ESG nexus in a transition economy where state influence remains prominent. Methodologically, it introduces a scalable text-mining approach to measuring firm-level digitalization and ESG engagement using corporate disclosures.