IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/reaccs/v28y2023i4d10.1007_s11142-022-09687-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The real effects of risk disclosures: evidence from climate change reporting in 10-Ks

Author

Listed:
  • Jeong-Bon Kim

    (City University of Hong Kong)

  • Chong Wang

    (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)

  • Feng Wu

    (Lingnan University)

Abstract

We examine the economic impacts of risk disclosures in accounting reports on the real decisions made by information senders (i.e., managers of the disclosing firms). In so doing, we exploit the SEC rule enacted in 2010 regarding climate change risk (CCR) reporting in 10-Ks as a quasi-natural experimental setting in which to apply a difference-in-differences analysis. We focus on CCR because of its vast influence on economic activities and the relative ease of identifying managerial behaviors related to climate change. Our results reveal that CCR-disclosing firms tend to engage more (less) in pro-environmental (anti-environmental) activities after the SEC 2010 rule. These real effects are more pronounced in firms that are under higher pressure from climate-minded external stakeholders and when firms’ businesses are more sensitive to climate change-related risks. We also find improved environmental performance in terms of reductions in the quantity, intensity, and cost of carbon emissions surrounding the SEC 2010 rule. Overall, our findings suggest that CCR disclosures alter corporate behaviors and help curb climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeong-Bon Kim & Chong Wang & Feng Wu, 2023. "The real effects of risk disclosures: evidence from climate change reporting in 10-Ks," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 2271-2318, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:28:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11142-022-09687-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-022-09687-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11142-022-09687-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11142-022-09687-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vidhi Chhaochharia & Yaniv Grinstein, 2009. "CEO Compensation and Board Structure," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(1), pages 231-261, February.
    2. James J. Heckman, 1976. "The Common Structure of Statistical Models of Truncation, Sample Selection and Limited Dependent Variables and a Simple Estimator for Such Models," NBER Chapters, in: Annals of Economic and Social Measurement, Volume 5, number 4, pages 475-492, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Dyreng, Scott D. & Lindsey, Bradley P. & Thornock, Jacob R., 2013. "Exploring the role Delaware plays as a domestic tax haven," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(3), pages 751-772.
    4. Chandra Kanodia & Haresh Sapra, 2016. "A Real Effects Perspective to Accounting Measurement and Disclosure: Implications and Insights for Future Research," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 623-676, May.
    5. Fama, Eugene F. & French, Kenneth R., 1997. "Industry costs of equity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 153-193, February.
    6. John L. Campbell & Mark Cecchini & Anna M. Cianci & Anne C. Ehinger & Edward M. Werner, 2019. "Tax-related mandatory risk factor disclosures, future profitability, and stock returns," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 264-308, March.
    7. Dyer, Travis & Lang, Mark & Stice-Lawrence, Lorien, 2017. "The evolution of 10-K textual disclosure: Evidence from Latent Dirichlet Allocation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(2), pages 221-245.
    8. Sudheer Chava, 2014. "Environmental Externalities and Cost of Capital," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(9), pages 2223-2247, September.
    9. Douglas W. Diamond, 1984. "Financial Intermediation and Delegated Monitoring," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 51(3), pages 393-414.
    10. Marianne Bertrand & Esther Duflo & Sendhil Mullainathan, 2004. "How Much Should We Trust Differences-In-Differences Estimates?," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 119(1), pages 249-275.
    11. Yang Bao & Anindya Datta, 2014. "Simultaneously Discovering and Quantifying Risk Types from Textual Risk Disclosures," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(6), pages 1371-1391, June.
    12. Cronqvist, Henrik & Yu, Frank, 2017. "Shaped by their daughters: Executives, female socialization, and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(3), pages 543-562.
    13. Diamond, Douglas W, 1991. "Monitoring and Reputation: The Choice between Bank Loans and Directly Placed Debt," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(4), pages 689-721, August.
    14. Anne Beatty & Lin Cheng & Haiwen Zhang, 2019. "Are Risk Factor Disclosures Still Relevant? Evidence from Market Reactions to Risk Factor Disclosures Before and After the Financial Crisis," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(2), pages 805-838, June.
    15. Young Jun Cho, 2015. "Segment Disclosure Transparency and Internal Capital Market Efficiency: Evidence from SFAS No. 131," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(4), pages 669-723, September.
    16. Can Chen & Jeong‐Bon Kim & Minghai Wei & Hao Zhang, 2019. "Linguistic Information Quality in Customers' Forward‐Looking Disclosures and Suppliers' Investment Decisions," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(3), pages 1751-1783, September.
    17. Ole-Kristian Hope & Danqi Hu & Hai Lu, 2016. "The benefits of specific risk-factor disclosures," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1005-1045, December.
    18. Richard Lambert & Christian Leuz & Robert E. Verrecchia, 2007. "Accounting Information, Disclosure, and the Cost of Capital," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(2), pages 385-420, May.
    19. Jeff Fleming & Chris Kirby & Barbara Ostdiek, 2006. "Information, Trading, and Volatility: Evidence from Weather‐Sensitive Markets," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(6), pages 2899-2930, December.
    20. Paul A. Griffin & David H. Lont & Estelle Y. Sun, 2017. "The Relevance to Investors of Greenhouse Gas Emission Disclosures," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 34(2), pages 1265-1297, June.
    21. Tzu‐Ting Chiu & Jeong‐Bon Kim & Zheng Wang, 2019. "Customers’ Risk Factor Disclosures and Suppliers’ Investment Efficiency," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(2), pages 773-804, June.
    22. A. J. Challinor & J. Watson & D. B. Lobell & S. M. Howden & D. R. Smith & N. Chhetri, 2014. "A meta-analysis of crop yield under climate change and adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 287-291, April.
    23. Henry He Huang & Joseph Kerstein & Chong Wang, 2018. "The impact of climate risk on firm performance and financing choices: An international comparison," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(5), pages 633-656, July.
    24. Christian Leuz & Peter D. Wysocki, 2016. "The Economics of Disclosure and Financial Reporting Regulation: Evidence and Suggestions for Future Research," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 525-622, May.
    25. Daniel A. Bens & Steven J. Monahan, 2008. "Altering Investment Decisions to Manage Financial Reporting Outcomes: Asset‐Backed Commercial Paper Conduits and FIN 46," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(5), pages 1017-1055, December.
    26. Tzu‐Ting Chiu & Yuyan Guan & Jeong‐Bon Kim, 2018. "The Effect of Risk Factor Disclosures on the Pricing of Credit Default Swaps," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(4), pages 2191-2224, December.
    27. Cheng, Mei & Dhaliwal, Dan & Zhang, Yuan, 2013. "Does investment efficiency improve after the disclosure of material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(1), pages 1-18.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hans B. Christensen & Luzi Hail & Christian Leuz, 2021. "Mandatory CSR and sustainability reporting: economic analysis and literature review," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(3), pages 1176-1248, September.
    2. Tong Lu & Konduru Sivaramakrishnan & Yanyan Wang & Lisheng Yu, 2021. "The Real Effects of Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting in China," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(5), pages 1493-1516, May.
    3. Jerry W. Chen & Eunice S. Khoo & Zihang Peng, 2023. "Climate change disclosure and the information environment in the initial public offering market," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(S1), pages 907-952, April.
    4. Dasgupta, Sudipto & Banerjee, Shantanu & SHI, RUI & Yan, Jiali, 2021. "Information Complementarities and the Dynamics of Transparency Shock Spillovers," CEPR Discussion Papers 15658, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Düsterhöft, Maximilian & Schiemann, Frank & Walther, Thomas, 2023. "Let’s talk about risk! Stock market effects of risk disclosure for European energy utilities," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    6. Biehl, Henrike & Bleibtreu, Christopher & Stefani, Ulrike, 2024. "The real effects of financial reporting: Evidence and suggestions for future research," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    7. Roychowdhury, Sugata & Shroff, Nemit & Verdi, Rodrigo S., 2019. "The effects of financial reporting and disclosure on corporate investment: A review," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(2).
    8. Wang, Sumingyue & Wang, Xinlu & Xu, Liang, 2023. "Debt maturity structure and the quality of risk disclosures," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    9. Allen H. Huang & Jianghua Shen & Amy Y. Zang, 2022. "The unintended benefit of the risk factor mandate of 2005," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 1319-1355, December.
    10. Elsayed, Mohamed & Elshandidy, Tamer, 2021. "Internal control effectiveness, textual risk disclosure, and their usefulness: U.S. evidence," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    11. Jing Chen & Elaine Henry & Xi Jiang, 2023. "Is Cybersecurity Risk Factor Disclosure Informative? Evidence from Disclosures Following a Data Breach," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(1), pages 199-224, September.
    12. M. J. Histen, 2022. "Taking Information Seriously: A Firm-side Interpretation of Risk Factor Disclosure," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 28(3), pages 119-131, November.
    13. Eugster, Florian & Wagner, Alexander F., 2020. "Value reporting and firm performance," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    14. Liu, Qigui & Wang, Junyi & Chi, Wenqiang, 2022. "The spillover effects of innovation content disclosure in MD&A," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    15. Mbanyele, William & Muchenje, Linda Tinofirei, 2022. "Climate change exposure, risk management and corporate social responsibility: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    16. Berkman, Henk & Jona, Jonathan & Soderstrom, Naomi, 2024. "Firm-specific climate risk and market valuation," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    17. Cyrus Aghamolla & Richard T. Thakor, 2022. "Do Mandatory Disclosure Requirements for Private Firms Increase the Propensity of Going Public?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 755-804, June.
    18. Xiaoqian Zhu & Jianping Li & Yinghui Wang, 2024. "Are risk disclosures in financial reports informative? A text mining-based perspective," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    19. Changyun Wang & Chenyu Wang & Weixing Wu, 2023. "Customers' stock price crash risk and suppliers' investment inefficiency: Evidence from China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(5), pages 5069-5092, December.
    20. Chowdhury, Hasibul & Hodgson, Allan & Hasan, Mostafa Monzur, 2022. "Does a competitive external labour market affect corporate social responsibility? Evidence from industry tournament incentives," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:28:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11142-022-09687-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.