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Pricing Ethics in the Foreign Exchange Market: Environmental, Social and Governance Ratings and Currency Premia

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  • Taylor, Mark
  • Filippou, Ilias

Abstract

We examine the cross-sectional predictive ability of the Refinitiv Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) score for returns in the foreign exchange market, using ESG scores aggregated at the national level, and find that ESG is a strong negative predictor of currency returns. Intuitively, investors require a premium for financing low-ESG countries while high-ESG countries offer lower returns and provide a hedge in the bad state of the world. We show that ESG is priced in the cross-section of currency returns. We also consider the different components of ESG and show that its predictability is driven by the environmental pillar of the ESG ratings. The profitability of the ESG currency strategy is not driven by the carry trade and is robust to transaction costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Taylor, Mark & Filippou, Ilias, 2021. "Pricing Ethics in the Foreign Exchange Market: Environmental, Social and Governance Ratings and Currency Premia," CEPR Discussion Papers 16392, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:16392
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    2. Wenny Candra Mandagie & Kiandra Putri Susanto & Endri Endri & Arjuna Wiwaha, 2024. "Oil Price and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure (CSRD): Evidence from Indonesian Energy Companies," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(3), pages 694-701, May.
    3. Beckmann, Joscha & Rogmann, Jennifer, 2024. "Determinants and effects of country ESG controversy," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    4. Bauckloh, Michael Tobias & Dobrick, Juris & Höck, André & Utz, Sebastian & Wagner, Marcus, 2023. ""In partnership for the goals"? The (dis)agreement of SDG ratings," CFR Working Papers 23-02, University of Cologne, Centre for Financial Research (CFR).
    5. Caterina Lucarelli & Sabrina Severini, 2024. "Anatomy of the chimera: Environmental, Social, and Governance ratings beyond the myth," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4198-4217, July.
    6. Shusen Zhu & Hui Sun & Beibei Zhang & Zedong Yang & Xuechao Xia, 2023. "Bilateral Effects of ESG Responsibility Fulfillment of Industrial Companies on Green Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    7. Qureshi, Fiza & Qureshi, Saba & Ismail, Izlin & Yarovaya, Larisa, 2025. "Unlocking economic insights: ESG integration, market dynamics and sustainable transitions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    8. Faizul Haque & Collins G. Ntim, 2022. "Do corporate sustainability initiatives improve corporate carbon performance? Evidence from European firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3318-3334, November.

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    JEL classification:

    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill

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