The market valuation of ethical assets in Spain: an application of the hedonic pricing method

• Published in: Business ethics (Oxford, England) England), 2014-10, Vol.23 (4), p.343-363
• Main Authors: Bilbao-Terol, Celia, Cañal-Fernández, Verónica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Business ethics; Corporate social responsibility; Market theory; Pricing; Social investing; Social responsibility; Spain; Studies; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Valuation methods; Workers' rights
• ISSN: 0962-8770; 2694-6416; 1467-8608; 2694-6424
• DOI: 10.1111/beer.12055

The aim of this paper is to calculate the market valuation of non‐financial characteristics, namely, the social responsibility criteria (social, ethical and environmental) included in the Spanish Socially Responsible Investment Funds. The hedonic price method is applied for this purpose. This method relates the price of Socially Responsible Investment Funds with both financial and social responsibility characteristics. Because of the large number of social responsibility characteristics included in these funds, prior to application of the hedonic price method, the principal components factor analysis technique is used. The data are taken from the prospectus for each fund and from the data provided by the National Securities Market Commission. Results indicate that the Spanish market is sensitive to the social responsibility practices of companies. In particular, the market value practices related to environmental sustainability, the enforcement of labour rights, sustainable production and consumption and non‐abusive market practices.