Download or read book Socially Responsible Investment in a Global Environment written by Hung-Gay Fung and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2010-01-01 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The authors have done an excellent job explaining the development and practice of Socially Responsible Investment (SRI). Under the recent recognition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Asia and its strong emphasis by US and European corporations, this book provides important guidance to students and professionals who are interested in the effects and implications of SRI. This book is truly informative and should be on the reading list of all fund managers and CFOs of international corporations which are serious about CSR. Louis T.W. Cheng, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Individual investors and corporate heads have the responsibility to keep abreast of major changes in the marketplace. Socially responsible investment is one of those changes. Fung, Law and Yau provide, in a single source, a great opportunity to get up to date on an area that will be a force for years to come. I encourage any thoughtful investor or manager to read this book. Thomas Schneeweis, University of Massachusetts Amherst, US Socially responsible investment (SRI) is becoming increasingly popular and can be potentially rewarding to all parties concerned. This book discusses the opportunities, challenges, and practices of SRI in a global financial environment in a consistent and integrated framework of risk management. It also covers a wide variety of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues related to various participants, such as values-based retail, institutional investors, corporations, banks, supranational agencies, and non-governmental organizations. Readers are provided with the perspectives of SRI from various players in the financial community from values-based investors to fiduciaries to supranational agencies. The authors analyse the incorporation of ESG issues into investment practices within a regulatory, legal, reputational, and operational risk management framework. Academics, corporate executives, government regulators and policymakers, bankers, and non-governmental organizations involved with sustainable development will find much of interest in this book.

Download or read book Evolutions in Sustainable Investing written by Cary Krosinsky and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2011-12-27 with total page 512 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable Investing is fast becoming an essential method of generating long-term returns, moving beyond the negative approaches to socially responsible investing that have dominated the field. This book, our second on the subject, provides over 15 case studies of leading global investors and companies demonstrating how they successfully apply sustainability aspects to their core strategies. Learn from prominent thought leaders Dan Esty and Paul Hawken among others who have contributed key chapters. Our chapter on performance shows clearly how these strategies have been working once negative approaches are parsed out by those examining fund returns. This book also examines in great depth what data exists, and what's on the horizon, to best measure & capture sustainability successfully. Regional perspectives, including 3 chapters on Asia, and focuses on Canada, Australia, Africa & India are also included, as is a look across asset classes. Sustainable Investing, when performed with a positive perspective, has been outperforming the mainstream, unlike negative approaches designed to match benchmark returns. From eco-efficiency to sustainability-driven innovation and beyond, investors of all shapes & sizes need to know how best to position themselves for the radical market shifts underway.

Download or read book ESG and Responsible Institutional Investing Around the World A Critical Review written by Pedro Matos and published by CFA Institute Research Foundation. This book was released on 2020-05-29 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This survey examines the vibrant academic literature on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. While there is no consensus on the exact list of ESG issues, responsible investors increasingly assess stocks in their portfolios based on nonfinancial data on environmental impact (e.g., carbon emissions), social impact (e.g., employee satisfaction), and governance attributes (e.g., board structure). The objective is to reduce exposure to investments that pose greater ESG risks or to influence companies to become more sustainable. One active area of research at present involves assessing portfolio risk exposure to climate change. This literature review focuses on institutional investors, which have grown in importance such that they have now become the largest holders of shares in public companies globally. Historically, institutional investors tended to concentrate their ESG efforts mostly on corporate governance (the “G” in ESG). These efforts included seeking to eliminate provisions that restrict shareholder rights and enhance managerial power, such as staggered boards, supermajority rules, golden parachutes, and poison pills. Highlights from this section: · There is no consensus on the exact list of ESG issues and their materiality. · The ESG issue that gets the most attention from institutional investors is climate change, in particular their portfolio companies’ exposure to carbon risk and “stranded assets.” · Investors should be positioning themselves for increased regulation, with the regulatory agenda being more ambitious in the European Union than in the United States. Readers might come away from this survey skeptical about the potential for ESG investing to affect positive change. I prefer to characterize the current state of the literature as having a “healthy dose of skepticism,” with much more remaining to be explored. Here, I hope the reader comes away with a call to action. For the industry practitioner, I believe that the investment industry should strive to achieve positive societal goals. CFA Institute provides an exemplary case in its Future of Finance series (www.cfainstitute.org/research/future-finance). For the academic community, I suggest we ramp up research aimed at tackling some of the open questions around the pressing societal goals of ESG investing. I am optimistic that practitioners and academics will identify meaningful ways to better harness the power of global financial markets for addressing the pressing ESG issues facing our society.

Download or read book Socially Responsible Investment written by Russell Sparkes and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2003-03-14 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over recent years there has been rapid consumer-led growth in investing in socially responsible companies to the extent that it has had an influence on corporate policies. New regulations recognise the public interest by requiring all pension funds to declare their ethical policy. Investors can no longer just consider the financial aspects of a company before investing but also have to consider the complex world of ethical investments. Should the ethical policy take precedence over the financial aspects? Should policies be inclusive or exclusive? What percentage of a company's income has to come from unacceptable sources before the source is excluded? Should any exclusion policy also extend to those involved in selling or transporting goods deemed unacceptable? This is the first book to look at socially responsible investment from the perspective of the institutional investor, who will be led through the complex dilemmas of socially responsible investment with practical examples and advice.

Download or read book Investing for Change written by Augustin Landier and published by Oxford University Press on Demand. This book was released on 2009 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Examines the problems with globalization with regard to social standards, outsourcing, and reduced safety regulations and the impact these dramatic changes are having on society, the investor, and business in the present day around the world.

Download or read book Responsible Investing written by Matthew W. Sherwood and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-09-21 with total page 319 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This textbook provides the first holistic resource on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing for undergraduate and graduate programs. It provides a thorough background and history of ESG investing, as well as cutting-edge industry developments, in a way that introduces the reader to the rapidly developing field of responsible investing. Beginning with a comprehensive background of ESG investing and the development of models measuring risk and return, the book then discusses the development of ESG risks, and provides an overview of ESG rating systems. The textbook also outlines the current position of ESG investing in portfolio management through granular analysis, provides insight into common investor concerns about ESG investments, discloses qualitative theories relevant to ESG investing, and reviews literature attempting to model ESG investment performance. Finally, the authors provide readers with a foundation on the development of financial models measuring risk and return, which will be useful for measuring the performance of ESG investments. With case studies from contributors around the world, this textbook is the first of its kind to truly provide a compelling blend of quantitative and qualitative analysis supporting the incorporation of ESG investment strategies into investment portfolios. Offering an excellent overview of the growing trends in ESG investing, as well as a close analysis of ESG theories and their practical application both today and in the future, this book will be a great resource for both undergraduates and graduate students.

Download or read book Dilemmas in Responsible Investment written by Céline Louche and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imagine that you are a responsible investment money manager. One of your clients is asking you to sell her holdings in a company because it has been accused in the press of contracting with suppliers that have abusive labour conditions. You have to evaluate and benchmark the CSR performance of a number of companies from the same industry but among them there are companies, primarily the smallest, that provide little or no CSR information. One of your major clients is asking you to exclude companies involved in nanotechnology What would you do? Responsible investment (RI) – the integration of environmental, societal and governance (ESG) issues into investment decision-making – can be difficult and complex. Including or excluding companies, engaging with companies, partnering with stakeholders, evaluating environmental and societal controversies, defining criteria and, all the while, producing a competitive return for investors can raise multiple questions that cannot be dealt with simply. The practice of RI faces many such dilemmas as it seeks to balance the competing goals of business, society, and finance and to judge how best to reconcile what are often conflicting concerns. Dilemmas in Responsible Investment examines the problems responsible investment practitioners face daily. It emphasises the importance of asking the right questions as well as getting the right answers; and the importance of process as well as product. The authors pay attention to the diversity of opinion and variety of approaches available. They also raise fundamental questions about the very purpose of investment and the responsibilities of investors, both economic and societal. Although dilemmas in RI are not always easily resolved, Louche and Lydenberg believe that they are also a source of valuable and necessary debate about the appropriate role of corporations in society and the ability of the financial markets to appropriately serve the societies in which they operate. Such dilemmas provide a valuable framework for public debate and can encourage the emergence of innovative answers and approaches. Responsible investors join in these debates when they examine the societal and environmental implications of business activities, actions and behaviour Facilitate dialogue between corporations and their stakeholders Encourage corporate transparency on societal and environmental issues Reward companies that are making genuine efforts towards sustainability Integrate societal and environmental data into financial analysis. The book first of all provides a state-of-the-art overview of responsible investment, its history and development, explanations of key terms and a guide to the different actors involved in the field. Second, it presents 12 diverse hypothetical case studies that examine a wide spectrum of the challenges facing RI professionals, raising questions about the relationship between business and society, about the purpose of investment, and about the responsibilities of investors to various segments of society and the environment. The (often interconnected) cases present a dilemma, possible approaches available, variable factors, a variety of quotations and suggested responses from 35 leading professionals in the responsible investment community, real-world examples and comparisons and recommendations. Accessible, vivid and illuminating, Dilemmas in Responsible Investment is the first book specifically written for teaching and professional training in responsible investment. It will be required reading for students, academics and practitioners in the areas of finance, ethics and CSR.

Download or read book Ethical and Socially Responsible Investment written by Dominic Broadhurt and published by Walter de Gruyter. This book was released on 2005-05-15 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dieses neue Nachschlagewerk präsentiert mehr als 500 Informationsquellen zum Thema ethisch und sozial verantwortliche Investitionen. Es wendet sich an Informationsspezialisten, die im Bereich Wirtschaftsinformationen für den privaten wie öffentlichen Sektor tätig sind. Der Titel ist für alle, die mit Investitionsmanagement betraut sind oder relevante Informationen zu diesem Gebiet benötigen, eine unschätzbare Quelle aktueller Daten, handelt es sich doch um das umfangreichste Nachschlagewerk, das bislang zu diesem Thema veröffentlicht wurde. Das Buch deckt alle zentralen Bereiche innerhalb der sozial verantwortlichen Investitionen (SRI) ab: Umwelt, Menschenrechte, Arbeitsbedingungen, Tierschutz, Rüstungsfragen, Lebensmittelsicherheit, sexuelle Ausbeutung, Gesundheit, Sicherheit und Tabak. Die Informationsquellen zu jedem dieser Aspekte wurden einzeln ausgesucht, gründlich hinsichtlich der behandelten Themen analysiert und bewertet sowie mit vollständigen Kontaktangaben versehen. Das Spektrum der Quellen reicht von Büchern und Zeitschriften zu Websites und professionellen Einrichtungen. Der konkurrenzlose und benutzerfreundlich gestaltete Titel bietet allen, die im Bereich ethisch und sozial verantwortlicher Investitionen tätig sind, eine Auswahl der besten einschlägigen Informationsquellen.

Download or read book The Routledge Handbook of Responsible Investment written by Tessa Hebb and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2015-08-11 with total page 764 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment initiative has led to around a third of the world’s financial assets being managed with a commitment to invest in a way that considers environmental, social or governance (ESG) criteria. The responsible investment trend has increased dramatically since the global financial crisis, yet understanding of this field remains at an early stage. This handbook provides an atlas of current practice in the field of responsible investment. With a large global team of expert contributors, the book explores the impact of responsible investment on key financial actors ranging from mainstream asset managers to religious organizations. Offering students and researchers a comprehensive introduction to current scholarship and international structures in the expanding discipline of responsible investment, this handbook is vital reading across the fields of finance, economics and accounting.

Download or read book Socially Responsible Investment in the 21st Century written by and published by Emerald Group Publishing. This book was released on 2014-05-23 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Does Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) affect society in the 21st century? This book explores various facets of SRI to address its potential and limits to create societal change. Little research has been undertaken on the societal impacts of SRI. With this book we contribute to this debate, pushing the boundaries of SRI even further.

Download or read book ESG Investment written by Naoko Nemoto and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2020-02-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Investors are increasingly integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues into their investment decisions. Currently, more than half of managed assets in Europe are linked to ESG factors, while in Japan, ESG investment has grown dramatically in recent years. In principle, ESG investment can help to bridge the gap between profit-driven investment and economic and social sustainability in Asia and the Pacific. However, a number of challenges, such as unclear and varied sustainable investment criteria, untested impacts on corporate value and social issues, and the lack of quality data cloud the potential for increasing ESG investment. This book aims to contribute to developing a framework for future analysis and monitoring to ensure the growth of ESG investment.

Download or read book A Guide to Sustainable Corporate Responsibility written by Caroline D. Ditlev-Simonsen and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2022 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This open access book discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by companies in an age that increasingly values sustainability and demands corporate responsibility. Beginning with the historical development of corporate responsibility, this book moves from academic theory to practical application. It points to ways in which companies can successfully manage their transition to a more responsible, sustainable way of doing business, common mistakes to avoid and how the UN Sustainable Development Goals are integral to any sustainability transformation. Practical cases illustrate key points. Drawing on thirty years of sustainability research and extensive corporate experience, the author provides tools such as a Step-by-Step strategic guide on integrating sustainability in collaboration with stakeholders including employees, customers, suppliers and investors. The book is particularly relevant for SMEs and companies operating in emerging markets. From a broader perspective, the value of externalities, full cost pricing, alternative economic theories and circular economy are also addressed.

Download or read book Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Developing Markets written by Joshua Y. Abor and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2023-05-09 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Covering pertinent areas of sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) this forward-looking book examines SRI in developing markets including its evolution, principles and concepts. It explores the drivers and challenges in developing economies and analyses the theoretical underpinnings to critical issues pertaining to SRI.

Download or read book Sustainable Investing written by Cary Krosinsky and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012-05-23 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainable Investing is fast becoming the smart way of generating long-term returns. With conventional investors now scrambling to factor in issues such as climate change, this book captures a turning point in the evolution of global finance. Bringing together leading practitioners of Sustainable Investing from across the globe, this book charts how this agenda has evolved, what impact it has today, and what prospects are emerging for the years ahead. Sustainable Investing has already been outperforming the mainstream, and concerned investors need to know how best to position themselves for potentially radical market change.

Download or read book The Short Guide to Sustainable Investing written by Cary Krosinsky and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-09-08 with total page 67 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The vast majority of invested assets do not consider environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors. Socially responsible investing (SRI) emerged to address these challenges, but it remains largely deployed in "negative strategies" such as sector screening, and continues to be a small investment niche, largely due to perceptions about potential underperformance.Sustainable investing is a new, more positive investment construct, described as "an investment discipline that explicitly considers future social and environmental trends in financial decision making, in order to provide the best risk-adjusted and opportunity-directed returns for investors. By anticipating these trends ahead of the market, sustainable investing seeks to identify 'predictable surprises' that can help maximize value over the long term."This concise guide by one of the sector's leading experts: Disentangles the terminology around SRI and describes a new, positive, opportunities-oriented paradigm for sustainable investing Showcases funds and strategies that are delivering outperformance within ecological limitsSets out the key megatrends and scenarios which investors need to consider, and Offers a practical guide to constructing a sustainable portfolio. This is absolutely essential reading for investors, fund managers and analysts who need to get up to speed on sustainable investing.

Download or read book Investing in a Sustainable World written by Matthew J. KIERNAN and published by AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn. This book was released on 2008-11-12 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For business and investors, there's no doubt about it: The smart money is going green...and the growing movement toward ecologically forward-thinking companies is quickly becoming bigger and bigger. What may be surprising to some is that socially responsible organizations aren't just doing the right thing for the environment, they are also paying off financially, making their investors money and increasing the bottom line. Investing in a Sustainable World offers clear proof, through facts, figures, and hard documentation, that “going green” leads directly to better stock market performance...and that investors and companies who ignore it will, in fact, lose money. The book reveals the most powerful global mega­trends—from the ongoing focus on emerging markets to natural resource depletion—which are transforming the very basis on which companies will compete, and offers an approach to sustainability-enhanced investing beneficial to both investors and companies. Revolutionary and backed by undeniable statistics, this book shows the clear link between sustainability initiatives and clear-cut profitability.

Download or read book Environmental Social and Governance ESG Investing written by John Hill and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-01-30 with total page 371 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Investing: A Balanced Analysis of the Theory and Practice of a Sustainable Portfolio presents a balanced, thorough analysis of ESG factors as they are incorporated into the investment process. An estimated 25% of all new investments are in ESG funds, with a global total of $23 trillion and the U.S. accounting for almost $9 trillion. Many advocate the sustainability goals promoted by ESG, while others prefer to maximize returns and spend their earnings on social causes. The core problem facing those who want to promote sustainability goals is to define sustainability investing and measure its returns. This book examines theories and their practical implications, illuminating issues that other books leave in the shadows. Provides a dispassionate examination of ESG investing Presents the historical arguments for maximizing returns and competing theories to support an ESG approach Reviews case studies of empirical evidence about relative returns of both traditional and ESG investment approaches