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ESG Confusion and Stock Returns: Tackling the Problem of Noise

Author

Listed:
  • Florian Berg
  • Julian F. Koelbel
  • Anna Pavlova
  • Roberto Rigobon

Abstract

Existing measures of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) performance ESG ratings are noisy and, therefore, standard regression estimates of the effect of ESG performance on stock returns are biased. Addressing this as a classical errors-in-variables problem, we develop a noise-correction procedure in which we instrument ESG ratings with ratings of other ESG rating agencies. With this procedure, the median increase in the regression coefficients is a factor of 2.1. The results are similar when we use accounting profitability measures as outcome variables. In simulations, our noise-correction procedure outperforms alternative approaches such as simple averages or principal component analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Berg & Julian F. Koelbel & Anna Pavlova & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "ESG Confusion and Stock Returns: Tackling the Problem of Noise," NBER Working Papers 30562, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:30562
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Koji Takahashi & Sumiko Takaoka, 2023. "How much do firms need to satisfy employees? - Evidence from credit spreads and online employee reviews," BIS Working Papers 1111, Bank for International Settlements.
    2. Xuming Shangguan & Gengyan Shi & Zhou Yu, 2024. "ESG Performance and Enterprise Value in China: A Novel Approach via a Regulated Intermediary Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Rojo-Suárez, Javier & Alonso-Conde, Ana B. & Gonzalez-Ruiz, Juan David, 2024. "Does sustainability improve financial performance? An analysis of Latin American oil and gas firms," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    4. Wang, Xinyu & Zhao, Jing, 2023. "The green reputation: Corporate culture and environmental reputation risk," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PA).
    5. Luo, Deqing & Shan, Xun & Yan, Jingzhou & Yan, Qianhui, 2023. "Sustainable investment under ESG volatility and ambiguity," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    6. Gianluca Gucciardi & Elisa Ossola & Lucia Parisio & Matteo Pelagatti, 2024. "Common factors behind companies' Environmental ratings," Working Papers 536, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics.
    7. Long, Huaigang & Chiah, Mardy & Cakici, Nusret & Zaremba, Adam & Bilgin, Mehmet Huseyin, 2024. "ESG investing in good and bad times: An international study," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    8. Serge Darolles & Yuyi He & Gaëlle Le Fol, 2024. "Understanding the effect of ESG scores on stock returns using mediation theory," Post-Print hal-04594004, HAL.
    9. Li, Hao & Guo, Hui & Hao, Xinyao & Zhang, Xuan, 2023. "The ESG rating, spillover of ESG ratings, and stock return: Evidence from Chinese listed firms," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    10. Michele Costa, 2023. "The evaluation of the effects of ESG scores on financial markets," Working Papers wp1189, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • 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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