Title Carbon emissions reduction and corporate financial performance: the influence of country-level characteristics /
Authors van Emous, Robin ; Krušinskas, Rytis ; Westerman, Wim
DOI 10.3390/en14196029
Full Text Download
Is Part of Energies.. Basel : MDPI. 2021, vol. 14, iss. 19, art. no. 6029, p. 1-19.. ISSN 1996-1073
Keywords [eng] carbon emissions reduction ; corporate financial performance ; country-level characteristics
Abstract [eng] Using a cross-country dataset covering 9265 observations on 1785 firms representing 53 countries over the period 2004–2019, this study investigates the relation between carbon emissions reduction and corporate financial performance (CFP). We perform OLS regressions with fixed effects. We found that carbon emissions reduction increases the return on assets, the return on equity, and the return on sales, whereas it has no effect on the Tobin’s Q and the current ratio. The positive relationship with the return on assets is stronger for firms with a higher responsibility score. We study country characteristics by modeling GDP growth, overall emissions within a country, and the presence of carbon emissions legislation. Our results indicate that the overall carbon emissions of a country and the presence of carbon emissions legislation are related to both corporate carbon emissions reduction and CFP. Moderating effects of the country’s overall emissions and the presence of carbon emissions legislation do not affect the relationship between carbon emissions reduction and CFP. Despite the further understanding gained, the issue of whether it “pays to be green” can still not be resolved well.
Published Basel : MDPI
Type Journal article
Language English
Publication date 2021
CC license CC license description