Integration and Volatility Spillover Among Environmental, Social and Governance Indices: Evidence from BRICS Countries

The current research examines the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) equity indices among emerging markets, that is, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS). Daily data of the ESG equity index from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021 are collected from Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI). The article employs Johansen's co-integration test for long-term co-movement and Granger causality tests for causality among ESG equity indices. The study also used the BEKK model to investigate the volatility spillover among the ESG indices. Further, the study also calculated hedge ratios and portfolio weights. The results indicate that none of the ESG indices is co-integrated and short-run bi-directional causality exists across the four ESG indices. All the indices are significantly affected by their past shock and volatility. However, India's ESG index is influenced by the past shock of South Africa and the past volatility of China. The findings suggest that the flow of information between the ESG indices of emerging countries is not developed yet to the point where they may be integrated into the BRICS countries. As a result, these sustainable equity indices must be promoted even more to become fully integrated.