Financial market instability and CO2 emissions

Abstract

Capital markets may be an important tool in the reduction of pollution emissions. Indeed, they provide firms with an incentive to maintain a good environmental record (or at least, a good reputation) in order to maximize the value of their equity shares. Also, efficient capital markets may facilitate financing of environmentally friendly projects and reduce problems resulting from asymmetric information. In this paper, I use a panel of 36 countries between 1981 and 2007 to study the impact of financial market instability on CO2 emissions at the national level. According to my results, higher financial stability is beneficial for the environment.