IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/empeco/v67y2024i3d10.1007_s00181-024-02574-3.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Assessing the financial impacts of significant wildfires on US capital markets: sectoral analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Tchai Tavor

    (The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College)

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of significant wildfires from 2019 to 2022 on nine sectors within the US capital markets, utilizing a dataset encompassing 161 wildfires. Employing a combination of parametric and nonparametric tests, alongside regression analysis, the research scrutinizes how capital markets in distinct sectors respond to wildfire events, revealing nuanced effects. In sectors directly impacted, the insurance industry displays sensitivity to fire costs, with explicit country or event mentions correlating with sustained returns. Conversely, the real estate sector experiences diminished returns during prolonged wildfires, while the forestry and timber industry exhibits heightened sensitivity to fire costs, especially when ignited by lightning. Within indirect impact sectors, the health industry shows vulnerability to fire-related fatalities, with subsequent negative correlations with country mentions. In the food industry, fire costs contribute positively to returns, while duration and size yield negative effects. The transportation industry witnesses a gradual decline in returns, escalating with the number of fire days or associated costs. In resilience and mitigation sectors, utilities demonstrate recovery post-wildfires, contrasting with consistent declines in the energy sector. Among interconnected sectors, the travel and tourism industry sees increased returns tied to the number of victims, with events caused by human actions having a more pronounced impact. This research underscores the significance of tailored risk assessment and mitigation strategies, offering valuable insights for investors and policymakers navigating the intricate relationship between environmental events and financial markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Tchai Tavor, 2024. "Assessing the financial impacts of significant wildfires on US capital markets: sectoral analysis," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 67(3), pages 1115-1148, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:empeco:v:67:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s00181-024-02574-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s00181-024-02574-3
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00181-024-02574-3
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s00181-024-02574-3?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. Sharon Teitler‐Regev & Tchai Tavor, 2023. "The effect of Airbnb announcements on hotel stock prices," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(1), pages 78-100, March.
    2. Tchai Tavor, 2023. "The effect of natural gas discoveries in Israel on the strength of its currency," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 62(2), pages 236-256, June.
    3. Patell, Jm, 1976. "Corporate Forecasts Of Earnings Per Share And Stock-Price Behavior - Empirical Tests," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(2), pages 246-276.
    4. Galizia, Luiz Felipe & Alcasena, Fermín & Prata, Gabriel & Rodrigues, Marcos, 2021. "Assessing expected economic losses from wildfires in eucalypt plantations of western Brazil," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    5. Noy, Ilan, 2009. "The macroeconomic consequences of disasters," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 221-231, March.
    6. Klomp, Jeroen, 2014. "Financial fragility and natural disasters: An empirical analysis," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 13(C), pages 180-192.
    7. Malik, Ihtisham A. & Chowdhury, Hasibul & Alam, Md Samsul, 2023. "Equity market response to natural disasters: Does firm's corporate social responsibility make difference?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    8. Bourdeau-Brien, Michael & Kryzanowski, Lawrence, 2017. "The impact of natural disasters on the stock returns and volatilities of local firms," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 259-270.
    9. Kevin B. Hendricks & Brian W. Jacobs & Vinod R. Singhal, 2020. "Stock Market Reaction to Supply Chain Disruptions from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake," Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, INFORMS, vol. 22(4), pages 683-699, July.
    10. Chen, Yajie & Guo, Kun & Ji, Qiang & Zhang, Dayong, 2023. "“Not all climate risks are alike”: Heterogeneous responses of financial firms to natural disasters in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    11. 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.
    12. Benali, Nadia & Feki, Rochdi, 2017. "The impact of natural disasters on insurers’ profitability: Evidence from Property/Casualty Insurance company in United States," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1394-1400.
    13. Oscar Becerra & Eduardo Cavallo & Ilan Noy, 2014. "Foreign Aid in the Aftermath of Large Natural Disasters," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(3), pages 445-460, August.
    14. Subhani Keerthiratne & Richard S. J. Tol, 2017. "Impact of Natural Disasters on Financial Development," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 33-54, June.
    15. Kowalewski, Oskar & Śpiewanowski, Piotr, 2020. "Stock market response to potash mine disasters," Journal of Commodity Markets, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    16. Duso, Tomaso & Gugler, Klaus & Yurtoglu, Burcin, 2010. "Is the event study methodology useful for merger analysis? A comparison of stock market and accounting data," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 186-192, June.
    17. Eduardo Cavallo & Sebastian Galiani & Ilan Noy & Juan Pantano, 2013. "Catastrophic Natural Disasters and Economic Growth," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(5), pages 1549-1561, December.
    18. Ball, R & Brown, P, 1968. "Empirical Evaluation Of Accounting Income Numbers," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 6(2), pages 159-178.
    19. Jesús Crespo Cuaresma & Jaroslava Hlouskova & Michael Obersteiner, 2008. "Natural Disasters As Creative Destruction? Evidence From Developing Countries," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 46(2), pages 214-226, April.
    20. Gang Chen, 2020. "Assessing the Financial Impact of Natural Disasters on Local Governments," Public Budgeting & Finance, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 22-44, February.
    21. Andrew C. Worthington, 2008. "The impact of natural events and disasters on the Australian stock market: a GARCH-M analysis of storms, floods, cyclones, earthquakes and bushfires," Global Business and Economics Review, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10.
    22. Daoping Wang & Dabo Guan & Shupeng Zhu & Michael Mac Kinnon & Guannan Geng & Qiang Zhang & Heran Zheng & Tianyang Lei & Shuai Shao & Peng Gong & Steven J. Davis, 2021. "Economic footprint of California wildfires in 2018," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(3), pages 252-260, March.
    23. Barnard, David M. & Green, Timothy R. & Mankin, Kyle R. & DeJonge, Kendall C. & Rhoades, Charles C. & Kampf, Stephanie K. & Giovando, Jeremy & Wilkins, Mike J. & Mahood, Adam L. & Sears, Megan G. & Co, 2023. "Wildfire and climate change amplify knowledge gaps linking mountain source-water systems and agricultural water supply in the western United States," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 286(C).
    24. Di Tommaso, Caterina & Foglia, Matteo & Pacelli, Vincenzo, 2023. "The impact and the contagion effect of natural disasters on sovereign credit risk. An empirical investigation," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    25. Ruslana Rachel Palatnik & Tchai Tavor & Liran Voldman, 2019. "The Symptoms of Illness: Does Israel Suffer from “Dutch Disease”?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-19, July.
    26. Fama, Eugene F, et al, 1969. "The Adjustment of Stock Prices to New Information," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 10(1), pages 1-21, February.
    27. Drago Bergholt & Päivi Lujala, 2012. "Climate-related natural disasters, economic growth, and armed civil conflict," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 49(1), pages 147-162, January.
    28. Joshua J. Thompson & Robert L. Wilby & John K. Hillier & Richenda Connell & Geoffrey R. Saville, 2023. "Climate Gentrification: Valuing Perceived Climate Risks in Property Prices," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 113(5), pages 1092-1111, May.
    29. Mark Skidmore & Hideki Toya, 2002. "Do Natural Disasters Promote Long-Run Growth?," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 40(4), pages 664-687, October.
    30. A. Craig MacKinlay, 1997. "Event Studies in Economics and Finance," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(1), pages 13-39, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Tchai Tavor, 2024. "Analyzing the influence of Airbnb announcements in the Asia Pacific Region: a sectoral perspective on travel, tourism, and real estate," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 14(4), pages 873-905, December.
    2. Susana Ferreira, 2024. "Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change: Economic Impacts and Adaptation Policies," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 16(1), pages 207-231, October.
    3. Mohit Gupta & Navdeep Aggarwal, 2018. "Signaling Effect of Shifts in Dividend Policy: Evidence from Indian Capital Markets," Business Perspectives and Research, , vol. 6(2), pages 142-153, July.
    4. Sebastien Bradley & Estelle Dauchy & Makoto Hasegawa, 2018. "Investor valuations of Japan’s adoption of a territorial tax regime: quantifying the direct and competitive effects of international tax reform," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 25(3), pages 581-630, June.
    5. Ihtisham A. Malik & Robert Faff, 2022. "Industry market reaction to natural disasters: do firm characteristics and disaster magnitude matter?," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 111(3), pages 2963-2994, April.
    6. De Bandt Olivier, & Jacolin Luc, & Lemaire Thibault., 2021. "Climate Change in Developing Countries: Global Warming Effects,Transmission Channels and Adaptation Policies," Working papers 822, Banque de France.
    7. Ranjeeni, Kumari, 2014. "Sectoral and industrial performance during a stock market crisis," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 178-193.
    8. Chen, Xia & Zhao, Xinxin & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2023. "The shocks of natural disasters on NPLs: Global evidence," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(1).
    9. Ding, Li & Lam, Hugo K.S. & Cheng, T.C.E. & Zhou, Honggeng, 2018. "A review of short-term event studies in operations and supply chain management," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 329-342.
    10. Pauline Avril & Gregory Levieuge & Camelia Turcu, 2021. "Natural Disasters and Financial Stress: Can Macroprudential Regulation Tame Green Swans?," Working Papers 2021.13, International Network for Economic Research - INFER.
    11. Malik, Ihtisham A. & Chowdhury, Hasibul & Alam, Md Samsul, 2023. "Equity market response to natural disasters: Does firm's corporate social responsibility make difference?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    12. Chang, C-L. & Hsu, S.-H. & McAleer, M.J., 2018. "An Event Study of Chinese Tourists to Taiwan," Econometric Institute Research Papers 2018-003/III, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus School of Economics (ESE), Econometric Institute.
    13. Ryota Nakatani, 2021. "Fiscal Rules for Natural Disaster- and Climate Change-Prone Small States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-26, March.
    14. Corrado, Charles J. & Truong, Cameron, 2008. "Conducting event studies with Asia-Pacific security market data," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 493-521, November.
    15. Ihtisham A. Malik & Robert W. Faff & Kam F. Chan, 2020. "Market response of US equities to domestic natural disasters: industry‐based evidence," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(4), pages 3875-3904, December.
    16. Koppenberg, Maximilian & Hirsch, Stefan & Finger, Robert, 2023. "Effects of the debate on glyphosate's carcinogenic risk on pesticide producers' share prices," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    17. Matteo Coronese & Davide Luzzati, 2022. "Economic impacts of natural hazards and complexity science: a critical review," LEM Papers Series 2022/13, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    18. Subhani Keerthiratne & Richard S. J. Tol, 2017. "Impact of Natural Disasters on Financial Development," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 33-54, June.
    19. Brei, Michael & Mohan, Preeya & Strobl, Eric, 2019. "The impact of natural disasters on the banking sector: Evidence from hurricane strikes in the Caribbean," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 232-239.
    20. Heger, Martin Philipp & Neumayer, Eric, 2019. "The impact of the Indian Ocean tsunami on Aceh’s long-term economic growth," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Wildfires; Capital markets; Sectoral analysis; Financial impacts; Risk assessment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C58 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Financial Econometrics
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • Q54 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Climate; Natural Disasters and their Management; Global Warming

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:spr:empeco:v:67:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s00181-024-02574-3. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.