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The Effects of Environmental Information Disclosure and Energy Types on the Cost of Equity: Evidence from the Energy Industry in China

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  • Mohan Fonseka
  • Theja Rajapakse
  • Gao‐Liang Tian

Abstract

This study investigates whether environment information disclosure (EID) and different energy sources have any effect on the cost of equity capital (COEC), and how the EID effect on the COEC varies with different types of energy. We find a negative relationship between EID and COEC. Thus, EID reduces the agency problem and information asymmetry between firms and investors, and also supports the legitimacy and stakeholder theories’ explanation of the effect of EID on the COEC in China. We find a positive (negative) relationship between some energy sources such as gas, fossil‐fuelled thermal power generation, and oil (hydro‐power generation, solar, and wind) and the COEC. The finding explains the polluting nature, risk of replacement, regulation risk, and regulatory costs of different energy types, and those risks have been accounted by investors. We also find that when gas, fossil‐fuelled thermal power, and oil firms increase their level of EID, their COEC increases, whereas when power grid, solar, and wind power firms increase their level of EID, their COEC decreases. This finding is supported by the combination of polluting nature, risk of replacement, regulation risk, and regulatory costs of different energy sources and legitimacy and stakeholder theories. Our findings are robust to several endogeneity checks and additional tests for several unique features of Chinese capital markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohan Fonseka & Theja Rajapakse & Gao‐Liang Tian, 2019. "The Effects of Environmental Information Disclosure and Energy Types on the Cost of Equity: Evidence from the Energy Industry in China," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 55(2), pages 362-410, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:55:y:2019:i:2:p:362-410
    DOI: 10.1111/abac.12157
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    1. Su, Chi-Wei & Li, Wenhao & Umar, Muhammad & Lobonţ, Oana-Ramona, 2022. "Can green credit reduce the emissions of pollutants?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 205-219.
    2. Yingying Zhou & Zilin Shi & Fengyi Lei & Wanxuan Sun & Jiaxuan Zhang, 2022. "Effect of Environmental Information Disclosure on the Financing Efficiency of Enterprises—Evidence from China’s Listed Energy Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    3. Luo, Yuanda & Xiong, Guobao & Mardani, Abbas, 2022. "Environmental information disclosure and corporate innovation: The “Inverted U-shaped” regulating effect of media attention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 453-463.
    4. Guangyang Wang & Junwei Bai & Jian Xing & Jianfei Shen & Erli Dan & Xinyuan Zheng & Ludan Zhang & Peng Liu & Renchi Feng, 2023. "Operational Efficiency and Debt Cost: The Mediating Effect of Carbon Information Disclosure in Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-18, January.
    5. Zhang, Yongji & Lan, Minghui & Zhao, Yapu & Su, Zhi & Hao, Yu & Du, Heran, 2024. "Regional carbon emission pressure and corporate green innovation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    6. Tan, Jianhua & Tan, Zhidong & Chan, Kam C., 2021. "Does air pollution affect a firm's cash holdings?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    7. Majeed, Muhammad Ansar & Yan, Chao, 2021. "Financial statement comparability, state ownership, and the cost of debt: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    8. Andrew Osei Agyemang & Kong Yusheng & Angelina Kissiwaa Twum & Emmanuel Caesar Ayamba & Maxwell Kongkuah & Mohammed Musah, 2021. "Trend and relationship between environmental accounting disclosure and environmental performance for mining companies listed in China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 12192-12216, August.
    9. Vitiana L'Abate & Nicola Raimo & Benedetta Esposito & Filippo Vitolla, 2024. "Examining the impact of circular economy disclosure on the cost of debt: A signaling theory approach via social media," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4007-4019, September.
    10. Xia, Dan & Wang, Xiang-Qian, 2021. "The synergetic impact of environmental and innovation information disclosure on corporate financial performance: An empirical study based on China coal listed companies," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    11. Dongmin Kong & Jia Liu & Yanan Wang & Ling Zhu, 2024. "Employee Stock Ownership Plans and Corporate Environmental Engagement," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 177-199, January.
    12. Yadong Wang & Khaldoon Albitar & Imad Chbib, 2024. "Connecting the dots: A systematic review of corporate social responsibility, information asymmetry, and economic implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 5012-5031, September.
    13. Zhang, Yijun & Wang, Haowen & Ruan, Shengzhe & Cheng, Jinhua & Song, Yi, 2024. "Effects of environmental information disclosure on the green development of mining industry: Evidence from Chinese provincial mining sub-sectors," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    14. Ren, Shenggang & Wu, Yanping & Zhao, Li & Du, Lei, 2024. "Third-party environmental information disclosure and firms' carbon emissions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    15. Shi, Daqian & Bu, Caiqi & Xue, Huiyuan, 2021. "Deterrence effects of disclosure: The impact of environmental information disclosure on emission reduction of firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    16. Hoshik Shim, 2020. "Disclosure Frequency, Information Environment, and Cost of Capital under Regulation Fair Disclosure in the Korean Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-28, July.
    17. Liping Wang & Yuqi Shang & Shuqin Li & Chuang Li, 2023. "Environmental Information Disclosure-Environmental Costs Nexus: Evidence from Heavy Pollution Industry in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-21, February.
    18. Lihong Wang & Shaoqing Kang & Hongjun Wu, 2021. "Do Politically Connected Firms Pay Less Toward Environmental Protection? Firm‐level Evidence from Polluting Industries in China," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(2), pages 362-405, June.
    19. Rasa Kanapickiene & Greta Keliuotyte-Staniuleniene & Deimante Teresiene, 2021. "Disclosure of Non-Current Tangible Assets Information in Private Sector Entities Financial Statements: The Case of Lithuania," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-64, May.
    20. Nicola Raimo & Alessandra Caragnano & Marianna Zito & Filippo Vitolla & Massimo Mariani, 2021. "Extending the benefits of ESG disclosure: The effect on the cost of debt financing," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1412-1421, July.
    21. Jing‐Yue Liu & Yue‐Jun Zhang & Charles H. Cho, 2023. "Corporate environmental information disclosure and green innovation: The moderating effect of CEO visibility," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(6), pages 3020-3042, November.
    22. Zhiyang Hui & Haoyu Li & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2024. "Financing sustainability: How environmental disclosures shape bank lending decisions in emerging markets," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3940-3967, September.
    23. Zhang, Hongyan & Zhang, Lin, 2023. "Public support and energy innovation: Why do firms react differently?," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    24. Xing, Qiuhang & Xu, Gaoshuang & Wang, Yanping, 2024. "Open government data and the cost of debt," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 95(PA).

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