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ESG Scores and the Credit Market

Author

Listed:
  • Ga-Young Jang

    (Department of finance, Hanyang University Business School, Seoul 04763, Korea)

  • Hyoung-Goo Kang

    (Department of finance, Hanyang University Business School, Seoul 04763, Korea)

  • Ju-Yeong Lee

    (Department of finance, Hanyang University Business School, Seoul 04763, Korea)

  • Kyounghun Bae

    (Department of finance, Hanyang University Business School, Seoul 04763, Korea)

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores and bond returns using the corporate bond data in Korea during the period of 2010 to 2015. We find that ESG scores include valuable information about the downside risk of firms. This effect is particularly salient for the firms with high information asymmetry such as small firms. Interestingly, of the three ESG criteria, only environmental scores show a significant impact on bond returns when interacted with the firm size, suggesting that high environmental scores lower the cost of debt financing for small firms. Finally, ESG is complementary to credit ratings in assessing credit quality as credit ratings cannot explain away ESG effects in predicting future bond returns. This result suggests that credit rating agencies should either integrate ESG scores into their current rating process or produce separate ESG scores which bond investors integrate with the existing credit ratings by themselves.

Suggested Citation

  • Ga-Young Jang & Hyoung-Goo Kang & Ju-Yeong Lee & Kyounghun Bae, 2020. "ESG Scores and the Credit Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-13, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3456-:d:349502
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Okimoto, Tatsuyoshi & Takaoka, Sumiko, 2024. "Sustainability and credit spreads in Japan," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Yuexiang Yang & Zhihui Du & Zhen Zhang & Guanqun Tong & Rongxi Zhou, 2021. "Does ESG Disclosure Affect Corporate-Bond Credit Spreads? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Jang, Ga-Young & Kang, Hyoung-Goo & Kim, Woojin, 2022. "Corporate executives’ incentives and ESG performance," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    5. OKIMOTO Tatsuyoshi & TAKAOKA Sumiko, 2022. "Credit Default Swaps and Corporate Carbon Emissions in Japan," Discussion papers 22098, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    6. Yujin Kim & Su-In Kim, 2022. "Environmental Risk and Credit Ratings, and the Moderating Effect of Market Competition," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Davide Lauria & W. Brent Lindquist & Stefan Mittnik & Svetlozar T. Rachev, 2022. "ESG-Valued Portfolio Optimization and Dynamic Asset Pricing," Papers 2206.02854, arXiv.org.
    8. Lai, Xiaobing & Zhang, Fan, 2022. "Can ESG certification help company get out of over-indebtedness? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    9. Dunbar, Kwamie & Treku, Daniel & Sarnie, Robert & Hoover, Jack, 2023. "What does ESG risk premia tell us about mutual fund sustainability levels: A difference-in-differences analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    10. Heying Liu & Chan Lyu, 2022. "Can ESG Ratings Stimulate Corporate Green Innovation? Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, September.
    11. Monica Billio & Michele Costola & Iva Hristova & Carmelo Latino & Loriana Pelizzon, 2021. "Inside the ESG ratings: (Dis)agreement and performance," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1426-1445, September.
    12. Billio, Monica & Costola, Michele & Hristova, Iva & Latino, Carmelo & Pelizzon, Loriana, 2022. "Sustainable finance: A journey toward ESG and climate risk," SAFE Working Paper Series 349, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    13. Wang, Liyue & Yang, Liuyong, 2023. "Environmental, social and governance performance and credit risk: Moderating effect of corporate life cycle," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
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    16. Danilo Drago & Concetta Carnevale, 2020. "Do CSR Ratings Affect Loan Spreads? Evidence from European Syndicated Loan Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-30, September.

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