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Polluting Public Funds: The Effect of Environmental Regulation on Municipal Bonds

Author

Listed:
  • Akshaya Jha
  • Stephen A. Karolyi
  • Nicholas Z. Muller

Abstract

We present three findings on the effects of environmental regulation on the municipal bond market. First, yields increase (decrease) after a new standard is proposed (finalized), consistent with the resolution of regulatory uncertainty. Second, around annual compliance announcements, yields fall for counties that remain in compliance but increase for newly noncompliant counties. Third, yields are substantially higher for bonds from counties just above the pollution threshold relative to counties just below the threshold. Our findings suggest that increases in regulatory stringency or uncertainty over future environmental policy increase the cost of municipal debt raised to fund critical infrastructure.

Suggested Citation

  • Akshaya Jha & Stephen A. Karolyi & Nicholas Z. Muller, 2020. "Polluting Public Funds: The Effect of Environmental Regulation on Municipal Bonds," NBER Working Papers 28210, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28210
    Note: AP EEE PE
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling
    • Q58 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Government Policy
    • R51 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Finance in Urban and Rural Economies

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