Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/68670 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Schumpeter Discussion Papers No. 2011-011
Publisher: 
University of Wuppertal, Schumpeter School of Business and Economics, Wuppertal
Abstract: 
This paper analyzes how policy changes affect shareholder wealth in the context of environmental regulation. We exploit the unique and unexpected German reaction to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which involved the immediate shutdown of almost half of Germany's nuclear reactors while safety checks were carried out, and a three-month moratorium on extending the lives of others. Using the event study methodology, our findings indicate a wealth transfer from nuclear energy companies to renewable energies companies in Germany. We moreover find that the joint market capitalization of these firms has decreased, but the amount of this combined decrease is small. Substantial heterogeneity in the shareholder wealth effects across European countries can be linked to different nuclear energy policies. The shareholder wealth of nuclear and conventional energy companies in the United States has been unaffected.
Subjects: 
Electric Power
Nuclear Power
Green Economy
Earthquake
Tsunami
Event Study
Environment
JEL: 
Q48
Q54
G38
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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