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Green bonds: shades of green and brown

Author

Listed:
  • Moritz Immel

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

  • Britta Hachenberg

    (Technische Hochschule Köln)

  • Florian Kiesel

    (Grenoble Ecole de Management)

  • Dirk Schiereck

    (Technical University of Darmstadt)

Abstract

We analyse the existence of a green bond premium and find a negative premium of 8 to 14 basis points. We are further interested in the influence of ESG ratings on green bonds to determine if investors differentiate between the shade of green. Examining a unique dataset of green bonds, we find a statistically significant influence of ESG ratings on bond spreads. A one-point increase in the weighted average ESG score leads to a decrease in the spread of 6 to 13 basis points. Interestingly, the results are not driven by the environmental friendliness of the green bond issuer, but through the company’s governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Moritz Immel & Britta Hachenberg & Florian Kiesel & Dirk Schiereck, 2021. "Green bonds: shades of green and brown," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 96-109, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:assmgt:v:22:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1057_s41260-020-00192-z
    DOI: 10.1057/s41260-020-00192-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jun Lian & Xuanshun Huang & Xia Wu, 2024. "How green bonds promote firms' green collaborative innovation?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 2109-2126, May.
    2. Fauß, Tobias Friedrich, 2022. "Analysis of Green Bonds," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 7(3), pages 668-689.
    3. Jankovic, Irena & Vasic, Vladimir & Kovacevic, Vlado, 2022. "Does transparency matter? Evidence from panel analysis of the EU government green bonds," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    4. Fornari, Fabio & Pianeselli, Daniele & Zaghini, Andrea, 2024. "It better be good, it better be green," CFS Working Paper Series 723, Center for Financial Studies (CFS).
    5. Caramichael, John & Rapp, Andreas C., 2024. "The green corporate bond issuance premium," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    6. Sergei Grishunin & Alesya Bukreeva & Svetlana Suloeva & Ekaterina Burova, 2023. "Analysis of Yields and Their Determinants in the European Corporate Green Bond Market," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    7. Lee, Chi-Chuan & Yu, Chin-Hsien & Zhang, Jian, 2023. "Heterogeneous dependence among cryptocurrency, green bonds, and sustainable equity: New insights from Granger-causality in quantiles analysis," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 99-109.
    8. Giuseppe Cortellini & Ida Claudia Panetta, 2021. "Green Bond: A Systematic Literature Review for Future Research Agendas," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-29, December.
    9. Andreas Lichtenberger & Joao Paulo Braga & Willi Semmler, 2022. "Green Bonds for the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy," Econometrics, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-31, March.
    10. Agnese, Paolo & Giacomini, Emanuela, 2023. "Bank's funding costs: Do ESG factors really matter?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    11. Koziol, Christian & Proelss, Juliane & Roßmann, Philipp & Schweizer, Denis, 2022. "The price of being green," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    12. Mertzanis, Charilaos, 2023. "Energy policy diversity and green bond issuance around the world," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    13. Hu, Xin & Zhu, Bo & Lin, Renda & Li, Xiru & Zeng, Lidan & Zhou, Sitong, 2024. "How does greenness translate into greenium? Evidence from China's green bonds," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    14. Kevin Riehl & Florian Kiesel & Dirk Schiereck, 2022. "Political and Socioeconomic Factors That Determine the Financial Outcome of Successful Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    15. Yevheniia Antoniuk & Thomas Leirvik, 2021. "Climate Transition Risk and the Impact on Green Bonds," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-19, December.
    16. Riehl, Kevin & Kiesel, Florian & Schiereck, Dirk, 2022. "Political and Socioeconomic Factors That Determine the Financial Outcome of Successful Green Innovation," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 132099, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Green bonds; ESG ratings; Green bond premium; Governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility
    • Q50 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - General

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