We study how regulation limiting ESG policies distorts financial market outcomes. In 2021 Texas enacted laws that prohibit municipalities from contracting with banks with certain ESG policies, leading to the exit of five of the largest municipal bond underwriters from the state. Issuers...

The paper provides an overview of reasons for and nature of dramatic changes that have taken place in public economics in the past few decades. It gives a brief account of innovations in public economics that have taken place in large part due to developments in economic theory. It is argued...