The Evolving Landscape of the ESG Literature Post-COVID-19

Abstract

This study begins with the following two questions: Has the COVID-19 pandemic altered the ESG literature landscape? If so, how has it changed? To answer these questions, we review ESG literature before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, we aim to answer the following specific questions: (i) Which topics within the ESG domain gained the most popularity before and after the pandemic? (ii) What conclusions have been drawn from the existing literature? and (iii) Which areas of ESG research remain unexplored or require further investigation? We find that the literature on ESG has seen major changes after the onset of the pandemic, such as (i) heightened awareness of the importance of ESG measures among practitioners and academicians with a focus on specific facets of ESG; (ii) a growing focus on the social and governance aspects of ESG; (iii) a greater emphasis on the role of ESG considerations in sustainable recovery; (iv) the need for a consistent and standardized method of evaluating and reporting ESG matters; and (v) an escalating call for government interventions and regulatory support. Finally, we conclude this review by identifying potential avenues for future research.