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Green Bonds: Effectiveness and Implications for Public Policy

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  • Caroline Flammer

Abstract

This paper studies green bonds, a relatively new instrument in sustainable finance. I first describe the market for green bonds and characterize the “green bond boom” witnessed in recent years. Second, using firm-level data on green bonds issued by public companies, I examine companies’ financial and environmental performance following the issuance of green bonds. I find that the stock market responds positively to the announcement of green bond issues. Moreover, I document a significant increase in environmental performance, suggesting that green bonds are effective in improving companies’ environmental footprint. These findings are only significant for green bonds that are certified by independent third parties, suggesting that certification is an important governance mechanism in the green bond market. I conclude by discussing potential implications for public policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Flammer, 2019. "Green Bonds: Effectiveness and Implications for Public Policy," NBER Working Papers 25950, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:25950
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    Cited by:

    1. Chuc Anh Tu & Tapan Sarker & Ehsan Rasoulinezhad, 2020. "Factors Influencing the Green Bond Market Expansion: Evidence from a Multi-Dimensional Analysis," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Simon Dikau & Nick Robins & Matthias Täger, 2019. "Building a sustainable financial system: the state of practice and future priorities," Financial Stability Review, Banco de España, issue Autumn.
    3. Signe Krogstrup & William Oman, 2019. "Macroeconomic and Financial Policies for Climate Change Mitigation: A Review of the Literature," IMF Working Papers 2019/185, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Simon Dikau & Nick Robins & Matthias Täger, 2019. "Building a sustainable financial system: the state of practice and future priorities," Financial Stability Review, Banco de España, issue Autumn.
    5. Simon Dikau & Nick Robins & Matthias Täger, 2019. "Building a sustainable financial system: the state of practice and future priorities," Revista de Estabilidad Financiera, Banco de España, issue Autumn.
    6. Hoinaru Răzvan & Benson Cedine & Stănilă Georgiana Oana & Dobre Florin & Buda Daniel, 2020. "Green Bonds: Between economic incentives and eco-change," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 236-245, July.
    7. Simon Dikau & Nick Robins & Matthias Täger, 2019. "Building a sustainable financial system: the state of practice and future priorities," Revista de Estabilidad Financiera, Banco de España, issue Otoño.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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