The Effects of the War on Ukraine on Global Corporate Investment
Scottish Journal of Political Economy
Published online on April 20, 2026
Abstract
["Scottish Journal of Political Economy, EarlyView. ", "\nABSTRACT\nWe study the investment effects of the Russia–Ukraine war using a novel, text‐based measure of firm‐level exposure derived from earnings call transcripts. Combining this measure with financial statement data for over 6500 firms across 50 countries, we show that exposure to the conflict led to sizable and persistent declines in corporate investment. Firms that discussed the war in early 2022 invested significantly less than otherwise similar firms. The results hold across multiple empirical strategies and highlight the role of geopolitical risk in shaping firm behavior during global crises.\n"]