arbiter
JournalsAccount

Silencing Pollution: The Environmental Consequences of Anti-SLAPP Laws

Xikai Chen et al.

Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis2026https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102658article
FT50AJG 4ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We examine whether free-speech protections influence corporate environmental performance. Using the staggered enactment of U.S. anti-SLAPP statutes in a stacked difference-in-differences design from 1990 to 2019, we find that these laws significantly reduce firms’ toxic emissions without curbing economic activity. Anti-SLAPP enactments also promote environmental investment through green innovation, abatement spending, and waste reduction management, and strengthen governance via improved sustainability oversight, ESG-linked executive pay, employee training, and supply chain management. The effects are stronger when stakeholder monitoring is stronger and when managerial incentives embed sustainability goals. Overall, free-speech protections generate powerful environmental benefits.

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102658

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{xikai2026,
  title        = {{Silencing Pollution: The Environmental Consequences of Anti-SLAPP Laws}},
  author       = {Xikai Chen et al.},
  journal      = {Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022109026102658},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Silencing Pollution: The Environmental Consequences of Anti-SLAPP Laws

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.