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Do green policies catalyze green investment? Evidence from ESG investing developments in China

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  • Zhang, Xiaoke
  • Zhao, Xuankai
  • Qu, Linshan

Abstract

This study examines the heterogeneous performance of ESG investing in China before and after 2016, when the “Guidelines for Establishing a Green Financial System” was announced. In the portfolio analysis, high ESG portfolios earn significantly higher abnormal returns compared to low ESG portfolios in the post-2016 context, but this is not the case pre-2016. This outperformance is not closely related to common firm characteristics. Next, the stock analysis also shows that good ESG profiles predict higher future excess returns on average post-2016. The rising performance of good ESG stocks largely depends on equity cost advantage other than profitability improvement.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Xiaoke & Zhao, Xuankai & Qu, Linshan, 2021. "Do green policies catalyze green investment? Evidence from ESG investing developments in China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:207:y:2021:i:c:s0165176521003050
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2021.110028
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Min & Guo, Tongji & Ping, Weiying & Luo, Liangqing, 2023. "Sustainability and stability: Will ESG investment reduce the return and volatility spillover effects across the Chinese financial market?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Tan, Ruipeng & Pan, Lulu, 2023. "ESG rating disagreement, external attention and stock return: Evidence from China," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    3. Qihang Xue & Huimin Wang & Caiquan Bai, 2023. "Local green finance policies and corporate ESG performance," International Review of Finance, International Review of Finance Ltd., vol. 23(4), pages 721-749, December.
    4. Jiang, Yihuo & Ni, Hongliang & Ni, Yihan & Guo, Xiaomei, 2023. "Assessing environmental, social, and governance performance and natural resource management policies in China's dual carbon era for a green economy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(PB).
    5. Qin Lu & Zongyi Zhang, 2022. "Do Financial Support Policies Catalyse the Development of New Consumption Field?—Evidence from China’s New Consumer Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-23, October.
    6. Becker, Martin G. & Martin, Fabio & Walter, Andreas, 2022. "The power of ESG transparency: The effect of the new SFDR sustainability labels on mutual funds and individual investors," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 47(PB).
    7. Chen, Lifeng & Khurram, Muhammad Usman & Gao, Yuying & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Lucey, Brian, 2023. "ESG disclosure and technological innovation capabilities of the Chinese listed companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    8. Liu, Xufeng & Wan, Die, 2023. "Retail investor trading and ESG pricing in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    9. Wang, Kai & Chen, Xi & Wang, Chenye, 2023. "The impact of sustainable development planning in resource-based cities on corporate ESG–Evidence from China," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PA).
    10. Zhao Chen & Ling Hu & Xin He & Ziming Liu & Danni Chen & Weirui Wang, 2022. "Green Financial Reform and Corporate ESG Performance in China: Empirical Evidence from the Green Financial Reform and Innovation Pilot Zone," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-17, November.
    11. Huang, Wenli & Li, Shi & Qi, Zhen & Zhang, Qi, 2022. "Macro disagreement and international stock markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    12. Zanin, Luca, 2023. "A flexible estimation of sectoral portfolio exposure to climate transition risks in the European stock market," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(C).
    13. Kong, Wen, 2023. "The impact of ESG performance on debt financing costs: Evidence from Chinese family business," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PB).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    ESG investing; Portfolio analysis; Alpha; Chinese stock market; Green policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions

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