The Claim

Positive ESG media coverage is associated with a lower cost of equity, and this association is significantly stronger in state-owned enterprises than in non-state-owned firms, with a 0.065 reduction in cost of equity per standard deviation increase in the ESG media index for state-owned firms compared to a non-significant 0.013 effect in non-state-owned firms.

Source: Does environmental, social, and governance news coverage affect the cost of equity? A textual analysis of media coverage

What the research says

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Supports
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Challenges
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These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Companies with more positive media coverage of environmental, social, and governance practices tend to have a lower cost of equity, and this effect is stronger for state-owned companies than for privately owned companies.

See the scientific wording

The association between positive ESG media coverage and lower cost of equity is significantly stronger in state-owned enterprises than in non-state-owned firms, with a 0.065 reduction in cost of equity per standard deviation increase in ESG media index for state-owned firms compared to a non-significant 0.013 effect in non-state-owned firms.

Why this might work

When media highlights positive environmental or social actions by government-owned companies, investors interpret this as confirmation of stable, state-backed governance. This reduces perceived risk, leading investors to accept lower returns for their investments.

Suggested mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Does environmental, social, and governance news coverage affect the cost of equity? A textual analysis of media coverage

    In China, when the news talks positively about government-owned companies doing good for the environment or society, investors trust them more and ask for lower returns on their money — and this effect is much stronger for government-owned companies than private ones.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

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