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ESG and bond market resilience: Evidence from the Covid crisis

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  • Chava, Sudheer
  • Efremenko, Polina
  • Salva, Carolina

Abstract

We document a smaller expansion of the negative CDS-bond basis and lower selling pressure during the Covid crisis for bonds issued by firms with high environmental and social (E&S) scores, relative to bonds from low E&S firms. This pattern is consistent with lower investor outflows from sustainability focused funds rather than fund managers discriminating among which bonds to sell. Our results suggest that the relative performance of high and low E&S bonds during a crisis is influenced not only by shifts in firm fundamentals, but also by non-fundamental factors such as investor preferences and trading behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Chava, Sudheer & Efremenko, Polina & Salva, Carolina, 2026. "ESG and bond market resilience: Evidence from the Covid crisis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:185:y:2026:i:c:s0378426626000087
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2026.107634
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    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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