Firms' Environmental Performance: Does News Matter?

20 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by Nlandu Mamingi

Nlandu Mamingi

University of the West Indies (Bridgetown)

Susmita Dasgupta

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG)

Benoit Laplante

Independent Consultant

Jong Ho Hong

Seoul National University

Date Written: April 1, 2006

Abstract

The empirical literature on environmental performance or compliance has followed two strands: one based on the impact of formal regulation as a means of inducing better environmental performance, and another centered on the role of informal regulation which mainly emphasizes the role of communities and capital markets. The authors analyze the impact of environmental news in print media on firms' environmental performance. Using data from a survey of industrial facilities in the Republic of Korea, probit estimation results indicate that the publication of environmental news in print media and the firm's awareness of this publication are important predictors of a firm's environmental performance, more so than environmental laws, regulations, and environmental training. This paper thus reemphasizes the key role of media in influencing firms' environmental performance.

Keywords: Environmental Economics & Policies, Green Issues, Educational Technology and Distance Education, Brown Issues and Health, Environmental Governance

Suggested Citation

Mamingi, Nlandu and Dasgupta, Susmita and Laplante, Benoit and Hong, Jong Ho, Firms' Environmental Performance: Does News Matter? (April 1, 2006). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 3888, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=923233

Nlandu Mamingi (Contact Author)

University of the West Indies (Bridgetown) ( email )

Department of Economics
Cave Hill
Barbados
246-417-4273 (Phone)
246-417-4270 (Fax)

Susmita Dasgupta

World Bank - Development Research Group (DECRG) ( email )

1818 H. Street, N.W.
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Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-473-2679 (Phone)
202-522-3230 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://econ.worldbank.org/staff/sdasgupta

Benoit Laplante

Independent Consultant

Jong Ho Hong

Seoul National University

Kwanak-gu
Seoul, 151-742
Korea, Republic of (South Korea)