IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/wly/sustdv/v33y2025i6p8316-8328.html

From Smoke to Stock: Effect of PM2.5 on Firm Performance

Author

Listed:
  • Kriengkrai Boonlert‐U‐Thai
  • Achariya Suriyawong
  • Sirimon Treepongkaruna

Abstract

Motivated by the severity of air pollution, especially with PM 2.5 particles in Thailand, along with the 2030 United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), we study the effects of PM2.5 (particulate matter) on firm performance in Thailand over the period of 2014–2022 and find a positive association between PM2.5 and firm performance. Especially, a one standard deviation in the value of PM2.5 increases firm performance by 9.41%. Our findings are consistent with Porter's environmental competitiveness, resource‐based view, and externalities hypotheses predicting a positive association. To address endogeneity concerns, we conduct two‐stage least squares instrumental variables, GMM dynamic panel regression, and system GMM robust estimation. Our findings are robust to endogeneity concerns and provide new insights into the real effects of PM2.5 on firm performance. Corporations can achieve both economic performance and sustainability when they turn environmental challenges into opportunities by leveraging innovation and policy incentives to enhance market valuation, offering actionable insights for standard setters, policymakers, and corporate leaders. As a microlevel economic entity, corporations have a fundamental role to play in reaching the UNSDGs, especially on climate action.

Suggested Citation

  • Kriengkrai Boonlert‐U‐Thai & Achariya Suriyawong & Sirimon Treepongkaruna, 2025. "From Smoke to Stock: Effect of PM2.5 on Firm Performance," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(6), pages 8316-8328, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:6:p:8316-8328
    DOI: 10.1002/sd.70101
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70101
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sd.70101?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Morck, Randall & Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W., 1988. "Management ownership and market valuation," Scholarly Articles 29407535, Harvard University Department of Economics.
    2. Heyes, Anthony & Saberian, Soodeh, 2024. "Pollution and learning: Causal evidence from Obama’s Iran sanctions," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Treepongkaruna, Sirimon & Chan, Kam Fong & Malik, Ihtisham, 2023. "Climate policy uncertainty and the cross-section of stock returns," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    4. Tom Chang & Joshua S. Graff Zivin & Tal Gross & Matthew J. Neidell, 2019. "Corrigendum: Particulate Pollution and the Productivity of Pear Packers," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 454-456, August.
    5. Peter M. Demarzo & Michael J. Fishman & Zhiguo He & Neng Wang, 2012. "Dynamic Agency and the q Theory of Investment," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 67(6), pages 2295-2340, December.
    6. Xue, Shuyu & Zhang, Bohui & Zhao, Xiaofeng, 2021. "Brain drain: The impact of air pollution on firm performance," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Łukasz Kuźmiński & Yuriy Bilan & Tomasz Norek & Marcin Rabe & Katarzyna Widera & Agnieszka Łopatka & Dalia Streimikiene, 2025. "Territorial Classification of EU Countries Based on the Quality of Environmental Actions in Renewable Energy and Air Pollution in the Years 2015–2017," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 6039-6049, August.
    8. Li, Rong & Liu, Luxi & Qiu, Yun & Tian, Xiaohui, 2024. "Air pollution and stock returns: The cash flow risk channel," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    9. Morck, Randall & Schleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W., 2008. "Management ownership and market valuation: an empirical analysis," RAE - Revista de Administração de Empresas, FGV-EAESP Escola de Administração de Empresas de São Paulo (Brazil), vol. 48(2), April.
    10. Robert G. Eccles & Ioannis Ioannou & George Serafeim, 2014. "The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 60(11), pages 2835-2857, November.
    11. Jiang, Dequan & Li, Weiping & Shen, Yongjian & Yu, Shuangli, 2022. "Does air pollution affect earnings management? Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    12. Servaes, Henri, 1996. "The Value of Diversification during the Conglomerate Merger Wave," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 51(4), pages 1201-1225, September.
    13. Bhattacharyya, Asit & Rahman, Md Lutfur, 2019. "Mandatory CSR expenditure and firm performance," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    14. J. Lelieveld & J. S. Evans & M. Fnais & D. Giannadaki & A. Pozzer, 2015. "The contribution of outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a global scale," Nature, Nature, vol. 525(7569), pages 367-371, September.
    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. Ghosh, Saibal, 2007. "Leverage, managerial monitoring and firm valuation: A simultaneous equation approach," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 84-98, June.
    2. Che, Xin & Liebenberg, Andre P., 2017. "Effects of business diversification on asset risk-taking: Evidence from the U.S. property-liability insurance industry," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 122-136.
    3. Pablo de Andrés-Alonso & Valentín Azofra-Palenzuela & Juan A. Rodríguez-Sanz, 2000. "Endeudamiento, oportunidades de crecimiento y estructura contractual: un contraste empírico para el caso español," Investigaciones Economicas, Fundación SEPI, vol. 24(3), pages 641-679, September.
    4. Liu-Ching Tsai & Chaur-Shiuh Young & Hui-Wen Hsu, 2011. "Entrenched controlling shareholders and the performance consequences of corporate diversification in Taiwan," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 105-126, July.
    5. Lee, Kian-Tek & Hooy, Chee-Wooi & Hooy, Guat-Khim, 2012. "The value impact of international and industrial diversifications on public‐listed firms in Malaysia," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 366-380.
    6. Christian Espinosa & Carlos Maquieira, 2010. "Diversificación y Desempeño en Sud América: Evidencia para Chile," Working Papers 10, Facultad de Economía y Empresa, Universidad Diego Portales.
    7. Huei-Fu Lu, 2024. "Can Fulfilling Sports Corporate Social Responsibility Serve as an Immunity During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Perspective From Social Capital and Corporate Financial Performance," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(4), pages 21582440241, November.
    8. Rohan Kumar Mishra & Frank Obenpong Kwabi & Abhijeet Chandra, 2025. "Corporate Social Responsibility, Related Party Transaction and Earnings Management: Evidence from India," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 201(2), pages 331-369, October.
    9. Tang, Yuwei & Sun, Yanlin & He, Zhenyu, 2025. "Air pollution and firms' robot adoption: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    10. Chen, Fan & Sanger, Gary C. & Slovin, Myron B., 2013. "Asset sales in the mutual fund industry: Who gains?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 4834-4849.
    11. Bum-Jin Park & Ki-Hoon Lee, 2021. "The sensitivity of corporate social performance to corporate financial performance: A “time-based†agency theory perspective," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 46(2), pages 224-247, May.
    12. Ozge Uygur & Gulser Meric & Ilhan Meric, 2013. "The Financial Characteristics Of U.S. Companies Acquired By Foreign Companies," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8.
    13. Alexander Radygin & Revold Entov & Marina Turuntseva & Alena Gontmakher & Harry Swain & Jeff Carruthers & Karen Minden & Cheryl Urban, 2002. "The problems of corporate governance in Russia and its regions," Published Papers 12, Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, revised 2002.
    14. Amrou Awaysheh & Randall A. Heron & Tod Perry & Jared I. Wilson, 2020. "On the relation between corporate social responsibility and financial performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(6), pages 965-987, June.
    15. Claessens, Constantijn A. & Djankov, Simeon & Joseph P. H. Fan & Lang, Larry H. P., 1998. "Diversification and efficiency of investment by East Asian corporations," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2033, The World Bank.
    16. Kang, Jun-Koo & Shivdasani, Anil, 1997. "Corporate restructuring during performance declines in Japan," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 29-65, October.
    17. Brahmana, Rayenda Khresna & Setiawan, Doddy & Hooy, Chee Wooi, 2014. "Diversification strategy, Ownership Structure, and Firm Value: a study of public‐listed firms in Indonesia," MPRA Paper 64607, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    18. Singh, Manohar & Davidson III, Wallace N., 2003. "Agency costs, ownership structure and corporate governance mechanisms," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(5), pages 793-816, May.
    19. Angélica María Sánchez-Riofrío & Luis Ángel Guerras-Martín & Francisco Javier Forcadell, 2015. "Business portfolio restructuring: a comprehensive bibliometric review," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 102(3), pages 1921-1950, March.
    20. Nur Ýrem Nuhoðlu & Deniz Parlak, 2016. "Economic Crisis and Ownership Structure: Evidence from an Emerging Market," Bogazici Journal, Review of Social, Economic and Administrative Studies, Bogazici University, Department of Economics, vol. 30(1), pages 77-97.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:wly:sustdv:v:33:y:2025:i:6:p:8316-8328. 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: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-1719 .

    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.