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The pricing of green bonds: external reviews and the shades of green

Author

Listed:
  • Gregor Dorfleitner

    (University of Regensburg
    CERMi (Centre for European Research in Microfinance))

  • Sebastian Utz

    (University of St. Gallen)

  • Rongxin Zhang

    (University of Regensburg)

Abstract

We investigate the asset pricing implications of the greenness of bonds. To estimate a green-pricing effect, we determine the ‘green bond premium’ as the difference between the yields of matched conventional and green-labeled bonds. On a cross-sectional average, green bonds experience a statistically significant positive premium. This premium increases with external greenness evaluations, i.e., investors accept premiums of up to 5 basis points for bonds with a substantial environmental agenda. This external validation effect, which is strongest for bonds that are rated dark-green, may offset not incurring information costs, as this effect decreases with increasing age of bonds.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregor Dorfleitner & Sebastian Utz & Rongxin Zhang, 2022. "The pricing of green bonds: external reviews and the shades of green," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 797-834, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:16:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11846-021-00458-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-021-00458-9
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    Cited by:

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    3. Xiayang Chen & Weiqiu Long, 2023. "To Enhance the Credibility of the Green Bond Market through Regulating GBERs: The Case of China," Laws, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Silva, Florinda & Ferreira, André & Cortez, Maria Céu, 2024. "The performance of green bond portfolios under climate uncertainty: A comparative analysis with conventional and black bond portfolios," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    5. Emre Arat & Britta Hachenberg & Florian Kiesel & Dirk Schiereck, 2023. "Greenium, credit rating, and the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(7), pages 547-557, December.
    6. Jens Teubler & Sebastian Schuster, 2022. "Causal Strands for Social Bonds—A Case Study on the Credibility of Claims from Impact Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, October.
    7. 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).
    8. Liu, Min, 2022. "The driving forces of green bond market volatility and the response of the market to the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 288-309.
    9. Dahlen, Niklas & Fehrenkötter, Rieke & Schreiter, Maximilian, 2024. "The new bond on the block — Designing a carbon-linked bond for sustainable investment projects," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 316-325.
    10. Abhilash & Sandeep S. Shenoy & Dasharathraj K. Shetty & Lumen Shawn Lobo & Subrahmanya Kumar N., 2023. "Green Bond as an Innovative Financial Instrument in the Indian Financial Market: Insights From Systematic Literature Review Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    11. Ayman Abdalmajeed Alsmadi & Manaf Al-Okaily & Najed Alrawashdeh & Anwar Al-Gasaymeh & Amer Moh’d Al-hazimeh & Abdulrasheed Zakari, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Green Bonds and Sustainable Green Energy: Evidence from the Last Fifteen Years (2007–2022)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    12. Li, Yanxi & Yu, Conghui & Shi, Jinyan & Liu, Yuanyuan, 2023. "How does green bond issuance affect total factor productivity? Evidence from Chinese listed enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).

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