Journal of Contemporary Accounting
Volume 8 Issue 2, 2026

The effect of ESG on firm value through cost of debt: The moderating role of independent assurance

Hanafi, Muhammad Lutfi (Unknown)
Pramono, Hadi (Unknown)
Fakhruddin, Iwan (Unknown)
Pramurindra, Rezky (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
28 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study examines the association between ESG disclosure and firm value among energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange over 2019 to 2023, using 226 firm year observations, with Cost of Debt as a mediator and Independent Assurance as a moderator. Panel regression was processed using EViews and Stata, with models estimated using the Fixed Effect Model with White diagonal standard errors for consistency, supplemented by bootstrapped confidence intervals for the mediation test. Results show ESG disclosure is positively associated with Cost of Debt, contrary to expectations, while Cost of Debt is negatively associated with firm value and ESG disclosure is positively associated with firm value. Cost of Debt significantly mediates this relationship, with direct and indirect pathways running in opposite directions, indicating competitive mediation. Independent Assurance does not significantly moderate the ESG and Cost of Debt relationship. Firm size and the pandemic period are included as controls.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

JCA

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Journal of Contemporary Accounting (JCA) is a peer-reviewed journal published three times a year (January-April, May-August, and September-December) by Master in Accounting Program, Faculty of Economics, Universitas Islam Indonesia. JCA is intended to be the journal for publishing articles reporting ...