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The pricing of green bonds: external reviews and the shades of green

Author

Listed:
  • Gregor Dorfleitner

    (University of Regensburg
    CERMi (Centre for European Research in Microfinance))

  • Sebastian Utz

    (University of St. Gallen)

  • Rongxin Zhang

    (University of Regensburg)

Abstract

We investigate the asset pricing implications of the greenness of bonds. To estimate a green-pricing effect, we determine the ‘green bond premium’ as the difference between the yields of matched conventional and green-labeled bonds. On a cross-sectional average, green bonds experience a statistically significant positive premium. This premium increases with external greenness evaluations, i.e., investors accept premiums of up to 5 basis points for bonds with a substantial environmental agenda. This external validation effect, which is strongest for bonds that are rated dark-green, may offset not incurring information costs, as this effect decreases with increasing age of bonds.

Suggested Citation

  • Gregor Dorfleitner & Sebastian Utz & Rongxin Zhang, 2022. "The pricing of green bonds: external reviews and the shades of green," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 797-834, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:16:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11846-021-00458-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-021-00458-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Dorfleitner, Gregor & Eckberg, Jens & Utz, Sebastian, 2023. "Greenness ratings and green bond liquidity," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
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    3. Emre Arat & Britta Hachenberg & Florian Kiesel & Dirk Schiereck, 2023. "Greenium, credit rating, and the COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(7), pages 547-557, December.
    4. Jens Teubler & Sebastian Schuster, 2022. "Causal Strands for Social Bonds—A Case Study on the Credibility of Claims from Impact Reporting," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, October.
    5. Liu, Min, 2022. "The driving forces of green bond market volatility and the response of the market to the COVID-19 pandemic," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 288-309.
    6. Abhilash & Sandeep S. Shenoy & Dasharathraj K. Shetty & Lumen Shawn Lobo & Subrahmanya Kumar N., 2023. "Green Bond as an Innovative Financial Instrument in the Indian Financial Market: Insights From Systematic Literature Review Approach," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(2), pages 21582440231, June.
    7. Ayman Abdalmajeed Alsmadi & Manaf Al-Okaily & Najed Alrawashdeh & Anwar Al-Gasaymeh & Amer Moh’d Al-hazimeh & Abdulrasheed Zakari, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Green Bonds and Sustainable Green Energy: Evidence from the Last Fifteen Years (2007–2022)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Li, Yanxi & Yu, Conghui & Shi, Jinyan & Liu, Yuanyuan, 2023. "How does green bond issuance affect total factor productivity? Evidence from Chinese listed enterprises," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).

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