Can Banks Save Mountains?

David Haushalter, Joseph J. Henry, Peter Iliev

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study bank policies to limit lending to companies engaged in mountaintop removal (MTR) coal mining, a form of coal extraction that has raised many environmental concerns. Using the staggered introduction of these policies, we document that these policies did not lead to meaningful changes in average bank lending or MTR mining. However, larger banks, banks that are under media pressure, and banks operating in the affected states are more likely to reduce MTR loans. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that banks announced these policies under pressure and to improve their green credentials. (JEL G21, G28, G32) Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)761-791
Number of pages31
JournalReview of Corporate Finance Studies
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2023

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Business and International Management
  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics

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