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Is public attention a catalyst for fossil fuel companies?

Author

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  • Marie Cellou

    (CREM - Centre de recherche en économie et management - UNICAEN - Université de Caen Normandie - NU - Normandie Université - UR - Université de Rennes - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, IGR-IAE Rennes - Institut de Gestion de Rennes - Institut d'Administration des Entreprises - Rennes - UR - Université de Rennes, UR - Université de Rennes)

Abstract

We study the relationship between public policy and corporate profitability in the context of climate change. We use panel regressions on a sample of 25 S&P500 fossil fuel companies from 2004 to 2018. We show that public attention to climate issues can have a significant impact on financial performance of firms. Indeed, we observe that climate regulatory uncertainty, as well as the stringency of public environmental policies, do not have a significant impact on the ex-post profitability of the fossil fuel companies in our sample, except when public attention to climate issues intensifies.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Cellou, 2026. "Is public attention a catalyst for fossil fuel companies?," Post-Print hal-05558197, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05558197
    DOI: 10.54695/bmi.182.0041
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-05558197v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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