Date of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Advisor(s)
Svenja Dube
Abstract
I examine whether having a Democratic president in office has a statistically significant impact on the frequency of climate change risk disclosures from 2012 through 2020. My research aims to evaluate the need for standardized disclosures as proposed by the SEC in March 2022. Using textual analysis, I determine the frequency of climate change risk disclosure in 10-K reports filed with the SEC from 100 Fortune 500 companies. I utilize a linear regression model to determine the impact of having a Democratic President in office on the frequency of the climate risk disclosure while controlling for size, cash, research and development, advertising, and leverage. I find that there is a slight statistically significant positive relationship between having a Democratic President in office and the frequency of climate change risk disclosure. Overall, my findings suggest that the agenda of the President may have an impact on firm’s willingness to disclose climate risk and supports the proposal that climate risk disclosures should be standardized.
Recommended Citation
Connell, Shawn, ""Do Democratic Presidents Increase the Frequency of Climate Change Risk Disclosure?"" (2022). Gabelli School of Business Honors Thesis Collection. 32.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/gabelli_thesis/32
