IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v59y2024ics154461232301084x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

ESG reputation risk matters: An event study based on social media data

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas, Maxime L.D.
  • Desroziers, Adrien
  • Caccioli, Fabio
  • Aste, Tomaso

Abstract

We investigate the response of shareholders to Environmental, Social, and Governance-related reputational risk (ESG-risk), focusing exclusively on the impact of social media. Using a dataset of 114 million tweets about firms listed on the S&P100 index between 2016 and 2022, we extract conversations discussing ESG matters. In an event study design, we define events as unusual spikes in message posting activity linked to ESG-risk, and we then examine the corresponding changes in the returns of related assets. By focusing on social media, we gain insight into public opinion and investor sentiment, an aspect not captured through ESG controversies news alone. To the best of our knowledge, our approach is the first to distinctly separate the reputational impact on social media from the physical costs associated with negative ESG controversy news. Our results show that the occurrence of an ESG-risk event leads to a statistically significant average reduction of 0.29% in abnormal returns. Furthermore, our study suggests this effect is predominantly driven by Social and Governance categories, along with the “Environmental Opportunities” subcategory. Our research highlights the considerable impact of social media on financial markets, particularly in shaping shareholders’ perception of ESG reputation. We formulate several policy implications based on our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas, Maxime L.D. & Desroziers, Adrien & Caccioli, Fabio & Aste, Tomaso, 2024. "ESG reputation risk matters: An event study based on social media data," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:59:y:2024:i:c:s154461232301084x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2023.104712
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S154461232301084X
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2023.104712?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leung, Henry & Ton, Thai, 2015. "The impact of internet stock message boards on cross-sectional returns of small-capitalization stocks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 37-55.
    2. Hill, Joanne & Schneeweis, Thomas, 1983. "The Effect of Three Mile Island on Electric Utility Stock Prices: A Note," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 38(4), pages 1285-1292, September.
    3. Gunther Capelle-Blancard & Adrien Desroziers & Bert Scholtens, 2021. "Shareholders and the environment: a review of four decades of academic research," Post-Print hal-03526647, HAL.
    4. Gregory D. Saxton, 2012. "New Media and External Accounting Information: A Critical Review," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 22(3), pages 286-302, September.
    5. Gunther Capelle-Blancard & Aurélien Petit, 2019. "Every Little Helps? ESG News and Stock Market Reaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 543-565, June.
    6. Roland Bénabou & Jean Tirole, 2010. "Individual and Corporate Social Responsibility," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 77(305), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Bowen, Robert M. & Castanias, Richard P. & Daley, Lane A., 1983. "Intra-Industry Effects of the Accident at Three Mile Island," Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 18(1), pages 87-111, March.
    8. Perdichizzi, Salvatore & Reghezza, Alessio, 2023. "Non-significant in life but significant in death: Spillover effects to euro area banks from the SVB fallout," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    9. Ferrell, Allen & Liang, Hao & Renneboog, Luc, 2016. "Socially responsible firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 122(3), pages 585-606.
    10. Baier, P. & Berninger, M. & Kiesel, F., 2020. "Environmental, social and governance reporting in annual reports: A textual analysis," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 120592, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    11. Edmans, Alex, 2011. "Does the stock market fully value intangibles? Employee satisfaction and equity prices," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 101(3), pages 621-640, September.
    12. Boehmer, Ekkehart & Masumeci, Jim & Poulsen, Annette B., 1991. "Event-study methodology under conditions of event-induced variance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 253-272, December.
    13. Borenstein, Severin & Zimmerman, Martin B, 1988. "Market Incentives for Safe Commercial Airline Operation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 78(5), pages 913-935, December.
    14. Karpoff, Jonathan M & Lott, John R, Jr, 1993. "The Reputational Penalty Firms Bear from Committing Criminal Fraud," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 36(2), pages 757-802, October.
    15. Sanjiv Sabherwal & Salil K. Sarkar & Ying Zhang, 2011. "Do Internet Stock Message Boards Influence Trading? Evidence from Heavily Discussed Stocks with No Fundamental News," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(9-10), pages 1209-1237, November.
    16. Farber, Henry S. & Hallock, Kevin F., 2009. "The changing relationship between job loss announcements and stock prices: 1970-1999," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, January.
    17. Zhang, Qin & Wong, Jin Boon, 2022. "ESG reputational risks and board monitoring committees," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    18. Ahern, Kenneth R., 2017. "Information networks: Evidence from illegal insider trading tips," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 26-47.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Pandey, Dharen Kumar & Kumari, Vineeta & Palma, Alessia & Goodell, John W., 2024. "Impact of ESG regulation on stock market returns: Investor responses to a reasonable assurance mandate," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    2. Xiaolu Feng & Norman Mohd Saleh, 2024. "Managerial Ability and ESG Risks: The Moderating Effect of Internal Control Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-25, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maxime L. D. Nicolas & Adrien Desroziers & Fabio Caccioli & Tomaso Aste, 2023. "ESG Reputation Risk Matters: An Event Study Based on Social Media Data," Papers 2307.11571, arXiv.org.
    2. Fdez-Galiano, Inés Merino & Feria-Dominguez, José Manuel, 2024. "Do ESG disclosures mitigate investors’ reaction on mining disasters? Evidence from Brazil," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 256-267.
    3. Fafaliou, Irene & Giaka, Maria & Konstantios, Dimitrios & Polemis, Michael, 2020. "Firms’ Sustainability Performance and Market Longevity," MPRA Paper 101445, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. D'Souza, Reagan & Ho, Choy Yeing (Chloe) & Yang, Joey W., 2024. "The cost of corporate social irresponsibility for acquirers," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Krüger, Philipp, 2015. "Corporate goodness and shareholder wealth," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 304-329.
    6. Liu, Xianda & Hou, Wenxuan & Main, Brian G.M., 2022. "Anti-market sentiment and corporate social responsibility: Evidence from anti-Jewish pogroms," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    7. Gillan, Stuart L. & Koch, Andrew & Starks, Laura T., 2021. "Firms and social responsibility: A review of ESG and CSR research in corporate finance," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Servaes, Henri & Tamayo, Ane, 2015. "Social Capital, Trust, and Firm Performance during the Financial Crisis," CEPR Discussion Papers 10399, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    9. Karl V. Lins & Henri Servaes & Ane Tamayo, 2017. "Social Capital, Trust, and Firm Performance: The Value of Corporate Social Responsibility during the Financial Crisis," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(4), pages 1785-1824, August.
    10. Fariha Jahan & Jungmu Kim, 2023. "Does the Shield Effect of CSR Work in Crises? Evidence in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, June.
    11. Hasan, Iftekhar & Karavitis, Panagiotis & Kazakis, Pantelis & Leung, Woon Sau, 2019. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Profit Shifting," MPRA Paper 91580, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Hao Liang & Luc Renneboog, 2017. "On the Foundations of Corporate Social Responsibility," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 72(2), pages 853-910, April.
    13. Capelle-Blancard, Gunther & Laguna, Marie-Aude, 2010. "How does the stock market respond to chemical disasters?," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 192-205, March.
    14. Fairhurst, Douglas (DJ) & Greene, Daniel T., 2022. "Too much of a good thing? Corporate social responsibility and the takeover market," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    15. Liu, Xianda & An, Jiafu & Duan, Tinghua & Hou, Wenxuan & Zhao, Ruoran, 2023. "Lawyers in the boardroom and firms’ environmental performance," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    16. Gonul Colak & Kent Hickman & Timo Korkeamäki & Niclas O. Meyer, 2022. "ESG Issues and Career Prospects of Directors: Evidence from the International Director Labor Market," Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 147-203, November.
    17. Yanbing Wang & Michael S. Delgado & Jin Xu, 2023. "When and where does it pay to be green? – A look into socially responsible investing and the cost of equity capital," International Journal of Corporate Social Responsibility, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-23, December.
    18. Ana María Gómez-Bezares & Fernando Gómez-Bezares, 2020. "Catholic Social Thought and Sustainability. Ethical and Economic Alignment," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-22, December.
    19. Jie Cao & Hao Liang & Xintong Zhan, 2019. "Peer Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(12), pages 5487-5503, December.
    20. Gunther Capelle-Blancard & Aurélien Petit, 2019. "Every Little Helps? ESG News and Stock Market Reaction," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 157(2), pages 543-565, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:59:y:2024:i:c:s154461232301084x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.