Adapting to Change

This book examines the evolving dynamics between banks and firms within the context of alternative finance and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) integration. The book contributes to understanding the bank-firm relationship in light of the changing financial landscape and its implications for sustainable development. The book employs an empirical analysis to examine the bank-firm relationship in the context of alternative finance and ESG performance to assess firms’ riskiness, access to funds and cost of capital. The book addresses research gaps by comprehensively analysing the impact of alternative finance and ESG on the bank-firm relationship. It assists banks in adapting their financing practices and policies to align with emerging trends, and it offers insights for banks to evaluate and mitigate ESG-related risks effectively. It provides policy implications for promoting responsible lending, supporting the growth of alternative finance, and incentivising ESG integrationin the financial sector. Ultimately, it contributes to formulating policies that foster a sustainable and inclusive financial system, and will be of interest to professionals and researchers in finance, alternative finance, and sustainable finance. Egidio Palmieri is a Research Fellow in Bank Risk Management at the University of Udine where his current focus is on the relationship between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and banks. He specializes in credit mechanisms and risk mitigation effects. Additionally, he has explored the impact of ESG performance on the credit scores of non-financial institutions. He is also a Visiting Researcher in ESG and Bank Risk Management at Bangor University, UK. Enrico Fioravante Geretto is an Associate Professor at the University of Udine, Department of Economic Science and Statistics. In the past, he was a lecturer of banking operations techniques, insurance operations techniques, financial instruments techniques, asset management economics, intermediaries and financial markets.