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The effects of corporate and country sustainability characteristics on the cost of debt: An international investigation

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  • Hoepner, Andreas
  • Oikonomou, Ioannis
  • Scholtens, Bert
  • Schröder, Michael

Abstract

We investigate the relationship between corporate and country sustainability on the cost of bank loans. We look into 470 loan agreements signed between 2005 and 2012 with borrowers based on 28 different countries across the world and operating in all major industries. Our principal findings reveal that country sustainability related to both social and environmental frameworks has a statistically and economically impactful effect on direct financing of economic activity. An increase of one unit in country sustainability scores is associated with an average decrease in the costs of debt by 64 basis points. Our analysis shows that the environmental dimension of a country's institutional framework is approximately two times as impactful as the societal dimension when it comes to determining the cost of corporate loans. On the other hand, we find no conclusive evidence that firm-level sustainability influences the interest rates charged to borrowing firms by banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoepner, Andreas & Oikonomou, Ioannis & Scholtens, Bert & Schröder, Michael, 2014. "The effects of corporate and country sustainability characteristics on the cost of debt: An international investigation," ZEW Discussion Papers 14-100, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:14100
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    corporate social responsibility; CSR; CSP; sustainability; banking; financial contracts; culture;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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