Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2022
  • Article
  • Annual Review of Financial Economics

The Pricing and Ownership of U.S. Green Bonds

By: Malcolm Baker, Daniel Bergstresser, George Serafeim and Jeffrey Wurgler
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:23
ShareBar

Abstract

We study green bonds, which are bonds whose proceeds are used for environmentally sensitive purposes. After an overview of the U.S. corporate and municipal green bonds markets, we study pricing and ownership patterns using a simple framework that incorporates assets with nonpecuniary utility. As predicted, we find that green municipal bonds are issued at a premium to otherwise similar ordinary bonds. We also confirm that green bonds, particularly small or essentially riskless ones, are more closely held than ordinary bonds. These pricing and ownership effects are strongest for bonds that are externally certified as green.

Keywords

Green Bond; Pricing; Climate Finance; ESG; SRI; Sustainable; Municipal; Bonds; Environmental Sustainability; Financial Markets; Price; Ownership; United States

Citation

Baker, Malcolm, Daniel Bergstresser, George Serafeim, and Jeffrey Wurgler. "The Pricing and Ownership of U.S. Green Bonds." Annual Review of Financial Economics 14 (2022): 415–437.
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Read Now

About The Authors

Malcolm P. Baker

Finance
→More Publications

George Serafeim

Accounting and Management
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • March 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Thrive Earlier Detection (B) and the Evolution of Catalio Capital Management

    By: Malcolm Baker, Tara Bozzini and William Vrattos
    • January 2025
    • Faculty Research

    Vytal: Packaging-as-a-Service

    By: George Serafeim, Michael W. Toffel and Stacy Straaberg
    • December 2024
    • Faculty Research

    Northvolt: Building Batteries to Fight Climate Change (B)

    By: George Serafeim, Debora L. Spar, Peter Tufano, Hugo Etchegoyhen and Emilie Billaud
More from the Authors
  • Thrive Earlier Detection (B) and the Evolution of Catalio Capital Management By: Malcolm Baker, Tara Bozzini and William Vrattos
  • Vytal: Packaging-as-a-Service By: George Serafeim, Michael W. Toffel and Stacy Straaberg
  • Northvolt: Building Batteries to Fight Climate Change (B) By: George Serafeim, Debora L. Spar, Peter Tufano, Hugo Etchegoyhen and Emilie Billaud
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College.