Finance Commons^™

Esg Scores As A Measure Of Risk: The Relationship Between Environmental, Social, And Corporate Governance Ratings And The Financial Performance Of U.S. Oil And Gas Companies, Lauren Kim

Scripps Senior Theses

This study investigates the association between ESG (environmental, social, corporate governance) scores on the financial performance of U.S. oil and gas companies, an industry facing significant ESG-related pressures. ESG scores evaluate a firm’s environmental impacts, social responsibility, and corporate governance practices and can be used as a form of evaluating a firm’s risk mitigation efforts. However, there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that there exists a relationship, positive or negative, between ESG scores and firm performance in this industry. Overall, the findings of this study highlight the growing interest in ESG investing and is useful for investors and firms …

When Does Csr Payoff?, John A. Doukas, Rongyao Zhang

Finance Faculty Publications

We investigate whether firms engaging in corporate social responsibility (CSR) can preserve firm value during normal and unprecedented exogenous adverse events. Our evidence shows, in regular times, a negative relation between CSR engagement and firm value, but under adverse economic conditions, CSR protects firm value by decreasing firm risks. We also find that firms with high managerial attributes engage in greater CSR activities that benefit shareholders in both normal and aberrant financial times. Despite the controversy surrounding CSR, our evidence points out that CSR can be viewed as a set of intangible assets that can improve firm value across good …

Two Essays On Esg, Natalya Bikmetova

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

My dissertation studies the potential for the increased importance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) information for corporations and investors in the U.S. market. In my first essay, I examine the effect of coverage by ESG rating agencies on firm ESG performance and disclosure policy. To control for the selection in coverage, I construct a sample of firms with existing ESG ratings from some agencies and study the marginal effect of an additional coverage on a firm relative to firms that did not receive the additional coverage. I find that when firm ESG coverage intensifies, its ESG ratings improve, its …

Two Essays On The Airbnb Market, Debanjana Dey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This dissertation analyses the Airbnb market in Orange County, FL to provide insight on the performances of short-term vacation rentals listed on the platform. In the first essay we examine the factors affecting the demand and supply of this real estate sector before and after the Covid-19 pandemic, using occupancy, pricing and revenue models. The results identify the aspects of the Airbnb peer-to-peer sharing model that do and those that do not recover quickly after local covid restrictions are lifted. In particular, host experience, professional management, and proximity to major tourist attractions are some of the key factors that generate …

Analyzing The Accessibility Of Sports Facilities In Missoula, Montana, Quinn T. Peacock

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

The purpose of this survey is to understand the qualitative value of the public field inventory that will be analyzed based on quantitative data. We want to understand not only the assumed factors from data that affect rec-participants behavior, but what the individuals have to say about it for themselves as well.

Reproducibility In Management Science, David Moore, Miloš Fišar, Ben Greiner, Christoph Huber, Elena Katok, Ali I. Ozkes, Management Science Reproducibility Collaboration

Finance Faculty Works

With the help of more than 700 reviewers, we assess the reproducibility of nearly 500 articles published in the journal Management Science before and after the introduction of a new Data and Code Disclosure policy in 2019. When considering only articles for which data accessibility and hardware and software requirements were not an obstacle for reviewers, the results of more than 95% of articles under the new disclosure policy could be fully or largely computationally reproduced. However, for 29% of articles, at least part of the data set was not accessible to the reviewer. Considering all articles in our sample …

Chinese Yuan Interest Rate Swap Yields, Tanweer Akram, Khawaja Mamun

WCBT Faculty Publications

This paper models the dynamics of Chinese yuan–denominated long-term interest rate swap yields. It shows that the short-term interest rate exerts a decisive influence on the long-term swap yield after controlling for various macrofinancial variables, such as core inflation, the growth of industrial production, the percent change in the equity price index, and the percentage change in the Chinese yuan exchange rate. The autoregressive distributed lag approach is applied to model the dynamics of the long-term swap yield. The findings reinforce and extend John Maynard Keynes’s conjecture that in advanced countries, as well as emerging market economies such as China, …

Exploring Information Leakage In Historical Stock Market Data, Edison Hua

Dissertations and Theses

Information leakage is a major concern for traders who want to execute large orders without affecting the market price. In this paper, we explore the sources and effects of information leakage in historical stock market data using various methods and metrics. We first define information leakage as a pattern caused by a trader that would otherwise not occur without the trader’s activity. Using historical data, the direct impact of a potential large trade cannot be measured, but we consider a minimal impact large trade to be one that minimizes changes to the established trading data. We then analyze how information …

Evaluating The Impact Of Bitcoin On International Asset Allocation Using Mean-Variance, Conditional Value-At-Risk (Cvar), And Markov Regime Switching Approaches, Mohammadreza Mahmoudi

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This paper aims to analyze the effect of Bitcoin on portfolio optimization using mean-variance, conditional value-at-risk (CVaR), and Markov regime switching approaches. I assessed each approach and developed the next based on the prior approach’s weaknesses until I ended with a high level of confidence in the final approach. Though the results of mean-variance and CVaR frameworks indicate that Bitcoin improves the diversification of a well-diversified international portfolio, they assume that assets’ returns are developed linearly and normally distributed. However, the Bitcoin return does not have both of these characteristics. Due to this, I developed a Markov regime switching approach …

The Impact Of Credit On Domestic Investment: Case Of West African Economic And Monetary Union Countries, Sylvie Sanou

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis evaluates the impact of credit offered by the banking system on the investment rate of seven West African countries that are members of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries using data from the World Bank dataset from 1996-2012. Using a fixed effect model and random intercept model, I find that the credit offered by the banking system to private investors has a positive and statistically significant effect on the investment rate. In contrast, no significant effect was found for the credit offered by the banking system to the government. Further, I find a negative relationship …

Enhanced Maximum Likelihood Models For Underreported Variables: Extending To Multiple Claims Dimension, Shalaka Sudhanshu Sarpotdar

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This thesis builds upon the foundations laid out in Xia et al. [2023], which explored the utilizationof Maximum Likelihood approach to model misrepresentation data in Generalized Linear Models (GLM) ratemaking models. We introduce the concept of “underreported variables”, a form of insurance misrepresentation where insured individuals provide inaccurate information about risk factors that influence insurance eligibility, premiums, and insured amounts. Unlike fraudulent misrepresentation, underreported variables arise from a lack of awareness regarding the insured’s mental and physical health conditions, rather than fraudulent intent. The study rigorously tests the proposed model using health insurance data and extends its applicability to other …

Essays On Parental Migration In China And Performance Of Two Asset Pricing Models, Yuqing Song

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation comprises two research strands. The first strand investigates the migration choices of parents in rural China and their specific impact on children's educational outcomes. The second strand delves into the realm of financial econometrics, focusing solely on the performance of two asset pricing models on days scheduled for important macroeconomic news announcements.

The first essay places emphasis on the migration decisions of two-parent households with school-aged children. The findings affirm the hypothesis that household characteristics, rather than each parent’s personal traits, play an important role in determining parents’ migration choices.

The second essay examines the short-run effects of …

Excess Capacity In The Banking Sector And Its Effects On The Sub-Saharan Economy, Fu-Ad Wumpaeh Alhassan

Masters Theses

The banking sector plays a critical role in driving economic growth and financial stability in any region. However, the issue of excess capacity within this sector can have a profound effect on the overall health of the economy. This study investigates the excess capacity in the banking sector within the context of the Sub-Saharan region and explores its implications on the economic performance of countries within this area.

This research employed a mixed methods approach that combines both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Firstly, a review of existing literature on excess capacity in the banking sector and its impact on economies …

Firm-Level Political Risk And Corporate R&D Investment, Emmanuel Boah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

I examine how firms make R&D investment decisions during periods of political uncertainty. To minimize stickiness and overly generalized assumptions, I employ quarterly data. I find that firms invest more in R&D when facing high levels of political risk. The results suggest that this positive relationship between political risk and R&D investment is more pronounced for competitive and politically sensitive firms. Additionally, the positive association is evident among firms with higher growth opportunities and more liquid assets. The results are robust to the test for correlation, addressing endogeneity, and alternative proxies adopted for the variables of interest. Overall, the findings …

Socio-Economic Comparative Analysis Of Front-Of-The-Meter And Behind-The-Meter Microgrids For Panamnik, Olivia C. Amann Mcshea

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

In Northern California, the Karuk Tribe is feeling the effects of climate change on inadequate energy infrastructures leading to unreliable power supply. Improving energy reliability in a way that also increases energy sovereignty is necessary. Renewable energy microgrids have emerged as a pathway forward.

Modeling ownership structures and cash flows for different microgrid configurations can support the Tribe’s implementation of a microgrid in Orleans, CA that maximizes community benefits. This thesis considers a front-of-the-meter (FTM) and behind-the-meter (BTM) configuration, both approximately 2 MW solar PV and 3 MW/12 MWh battery energy storage. Cash flows including capital costs, operations and maintenance …

Impact Of Us-China Trade War On Thailand's Electronic Exports, Chanakarn Permthongchoochai

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This paper aims to examine how US-China trade war impacts on Thailand's electronics industry which is important to Thai economy in term of export. The study uses input-output table to show the connection of Thailand's electronics sector with other industry through its participation in global value chain. Moreover, the study uses a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model by using the reclassified General Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) database to simulate the results from the set-up scenarios. The results from the simulations show that, overall, Thai economy benefits from US-China trade war in term of both GDP and welfare of the country …

The Impact Of Foreign Direct Investment On Manufacturing Employment : A Comparative Study Of Zhejiang And Other Provinces, Dan Wu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of FDI on manufacturing labor productivity in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai using panel data between 2007 and 2020. This study investigates the differential effects of FDI in four manufacturing subsectors: Agriculture and Food Industries, Basic Industries, Light Industries and Heavy Industries. First, the empirical result shows that FDI has a significantly positive impact on manufacturing labor productivity in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Shanghai. FDI has a greater impact on labor productivity in Jiangsu compared to Zhejiang and Shanghai. Second, R&D expenditure has a significant positive effect on labor productivity both in …

A Comparative Country Study Of Outward Fdi Determinants With Special References Of Singapore, Malaysia And Thailand, Penporn Pathong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Over the last decade, ASEAN outward FDI increased significantly despite being major recipients of FDI. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have developed into an emerging investment source for many countries. Our study uses panel data analysis covering the period 2005–2019 to investigate and compare their determinants in order to draw policy implications. The results show that common factor that influence outward FDI of the above three countries are technology and geographic distance. Specific factors that influence outward FDI of individual countries differently are GDP, exchange rate, inflation rate, labor cost, export, import and political stability. For policies implication government can encourage …

Bubble Testing Under Polynomial Trends, Xiaohu Wang, Jun Yu

Research Collection School Of Economics

This paper develops the asymptotic theory of the least squares estimator of the autoregressive (AR) coefficient in an AR(1) regression with intercept when data is generated from a polynomial trend model in different forms. It is shown that the commonly used right-tailed unit root tests tend to favor the explosive alternative. A new procedure, which implements the right-tailed unit root tests in an AR(2) regression, is proposed. It is shown that when the data generating process has a polynomial trend, the test statistics based on the new procedure cannot find evidence of explosiveness. Whereas, when the data generating process is …

2023 Finance Calendar, Amanda Christensen, Melanie Jewkes, Andrea Schmutz, Alicia Nelson-Bell, Vincenza Vicari-Bentley, Lisa Cox

All Current Publications

This 2023 calendar from Empowering Financial Wellness, Utah State University Extension, outlines small monthly steps to improve personal finances throughout the year.