Achievements and challenges in ESG markets

Michela Scatigna, Fan Dora Xia, Anna Zabai and Omar Zulaica

BIS Quarterly Review, 2021

Abstract: Financial markets can support the transition to a more sustainable and fairer economy by influencing firms' funding costs. To explore this mechanism, we study the extent to which investors respond to signals about the environmental or social benefits stemming from given projects or firms. We find evidence of a carbon risk premium: debt from entities with a higher carbon footprint trades at marginally higher yields, all else the same. We also document that investors are willing to pay a social premium – which we refer to as "socium" – when a firm issues a social rather than a conventional bond. The magnitudes of the carbon risk premium and socium are modest but non-negligible in some industrial sectors and market segments. Some obstacles – such as "ESG washing" – stand in the way of further ESG market deepening, limiting contributions to sustainable development

JEL-codes: Q01 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bis:bisqtr:2112f

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