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The European Union’s Environmental Policy and Long-Term Investments of Enterprises

Author

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  • Malgorzata Janicka
  • Artur Sajnog

Abstract

Purpose: Current European Union efforts are focused on creating regulations that are conducive to long-term investor commitment, i.e. they are fighting short-termism on financial markets. Enterprises that implement the European Union’s environmental policy are seen to engage long-term financial resources, which should therefore dominate the structure of their assets. The primary goal of the paper is to ascertain whether a company’s high environmental performance (E-index) is positively correlated with the value of its long-term investments. Design/Methodology/Approach: The empirical research is carried out in two parts. The first part presents the correlation between the company’s E-index and the share of its long-term investments in total assets. For comparison, we examine these relationships with ESG, as well as the S and G scores. In the second part, we assess the character and strength of the impact of the company’s E-index on the value of its long-term investments. This study includes companies listed on 14 Western European stock exchanges, covering the period 2002 to 2019. Findings: Contrary to our assumptions, we find, first, that the environmental index is negatively related to the share of long-term investments in assets in most countries. Second, using panel dataset for the analysed European Union markets, we find evidence that the environmental index negatively affects the value of long-term investments, indicating that the current actions undertaken by the European Union have no empirical justification. Practical Implications: The results of the research may be useful for researchers, practitioners, and regulators from the European Union and the European Union countries in understanding the relationship between a company’s E-index and its investments. Originality/Value: There is no research which proves that the increase in long-term investments, and thus the increase in the availability of long-term capital, is of key importance for enterprises, so our research is pioneering and unique.

Suggested Citation

  • Malgorzata Janicka & Artur Sajnog, 2021. "The European Union’s Environmental Policy and Long-Term Investments of Enterprises," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4 - Part ), pages 335-355.
    • Handle: RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxiv:y:2021:i:4-part2:p:335-355
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G31 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Capital Budgeting; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development
    • Q56 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environment and Development; Environment and Trade; Sustainability; Environmental Accounts and Accounting; Environmental Equity; Population Growth

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