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Existing multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models either impose strong restrictions on the parameters or do not guarantee a well-defined (positive-definite) covariance matrix. I discuss the main multivariate GARCH models and focus on the BEKK model for which it is shown that the covariance and correlation is not adequately specified under certain conditions. This implies that any analysis of the persistence and the asymmetry of the correlation is potentially inaccurate. I therefore propose a new Flexible Dynamic Correlation (FDC) model that parameterizes the conditional correlation directly and eliminates various shortcomings. Most importantly, the number of exogenous variables in the correlation equation can be flexibly augmented without risking an indefinite covariance matrix. Empirical results of daily and monthly returns of four international stock market indices reveal that correlations exhibit different degrees of persistence and different asymmetric reactions to shocks than variances. In addition, I find that correlations do not always increase with jointly negative shocks implying a justification for international portfolio diversification.

The “time value of money principle,” a building block of finance theory and practice, states that money today is worth more than money in the future. In this chapter, we argue that this principle is not consistent with intergenerational equity or sustainability.

We demonstrate that standard capital budgeting negatively affects sustainability by presenting two numerical examples and by discussing the role of financial markets in the time value of money and the discount rate. We then discuss Silvio Gesell’s (1862–1930) concept of Freigeld as a possible alternative framework for a “socially optimal” discount rate.

We show that the time value of money principle, as employed in standard capital budgeting techniques, tends to reject sustainable projects (that only break even in the long run) and accept unsustainable projects (that break even in the short term but entail significant long-term negative externalities). We find that fiat currencies offer interesting perspectives in the context of sustainability.

We show that money, interest rates and investment valuation techniques are not merely technical tools, but have important institutional, social, and political attributes. Taken together with current global demands for sustainability, this observation could justify a new research agenda seeking to redefine current capital budgeting techniques.

We stress that the “time value of money principle” should not be viewed as a technical tool, but rather, as a social and political construct. We argue that the principle needs to be reconsidered given the current global sustainability crisis.

The economics literature considers that externalities indicate a market failure, to which policy makers should respond by introducing optimal tax incentives and regulation. At the same time, the management studies literature has proposed a set of initiatives to align corporate governance with sustainability principles. This chapter examines an issue that concerns both these literatures, that is, the relationship between sustainability and the time value of money.

The editors are pleased to offer the following papers to the reader in recognition and appreciation of the contributions to our literature made by Robert Engle and Sir Clive Granger, winners of the 2003 Nobel Prize in Economics. Please see the previous dedication page of this volume. This part of Volume 20 of Advances in Econometric focuses on volatility models. The contributions cover a variety of topics and are organized into three broad categories to aid the reader. The first five papers focus broadly on multivariate Generalised auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models. The first four papers propose new models that enhance existing models, while the final paper proposes a test for multivariate GARCH in the models with non-stationary variables. The next three papers examine topics related to high frequency-data. The first of these papers compares asymptotically mean square error (MSE)-equivalent sampling frequencies and window lengths, while the other two papers in this group consider the problem of estimating volatility in the presence of microstructure noise. The last five papers are contributions relevant primarily to univariate volatility models. Of course, we are also pleased to include Rob's and Clive's remarks on their careers and their views on innovation in econometric theory and practice that were given at the third annual Advances in Econometrics Conference held at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, on November 5–7, 2004.

When a firm implements certain HR practices, different employees attribute different motives and intentions to the firm with regard to those HR practices. Research on HR attributions has made progress toward understanding the relationship between HR practices and employee outcomes from a process perspective. However, this research is still fragmented and lacks a systematic typology of the different types of HR attributions and a compelling organizing research framework. Furthermore, a number of research gaps and opportunities have emerged regarding the nomological net of employee HR attributions. To address the gaps and capitalize on the opportunities, the authors propose an overarching theory-driven multi-level framework that guides the choice of the antecedents and outcomes of employee HR attributions and explains their relationships along with both mediating and moderating mechanisms. Drawing on signaling theory embedded in the proposed framework, the authors identify and categorize various antecedents of employee HR attributions to explain their relationships. The authors also use several additional theories such as social exchange and the job demands–resources model included in their review to identify and categorize various outcomes of employee HR attributions across levels of analysis (i.e., individual, collective [team/group/unit], organization) and explain their relationships. In addition, the proposed framework explains how individual-level employee HR attributions emerge at the collective level and influence collective processes and outcomes. The authors end their review by pinpointing future research needs and discussing related future research directions.

The authors investigate the implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices of firms for the pricing of their credit default swaps (CDS). In doing so, the authors compare European and US firms and consider nonlinear and indirect effects. This complements the previous literature focusing on linear and direct effects using bond yields and credit ratings of US firms.

For this purpose, the authors apply fixed effects regressions on a comprehensive panel data set of US and European firms. Further, nonlinear and indirect effects are investigated utilizing quantile regressions and a path analysis.

The evidence indicates that higher ESG ratings mitigate credit risks of US and European firms from 2007 to 2019. The risk mitigation effect is U-shaped across ESG quantiles, which is consistent with opposing effects of growing stakeholder influence capacity and diminishing marginal returns on ESG investments. The authors further reveal a mediating indirect volatility channel that substantially amplifies the direct effect of ESG on credit risk. A one-standard-deviation improvement in ESG ratings is estimated to reduce CDS spreads of low, medium and high ESG firms by approximately 4%, 8% and 3%, respectively.

This is the first study to examine whether credit markets reflect regional differences between Europe and the US with regard to the ESG-CDS-relationship. In addition, this paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating differences in the response of CDS spreads across ESG quantiles and to study potential indirect channels connecting ESG and CDS spreads using structural credit risk variables.