This publication is a sequel to the OECD 2015 report on social impact investment (SII), Building the Evidence Base, bringing new evidence on the role of SII in financing sustainable development.

As a result of the recent financial crisis, new ways of doing finance have developed, creating alternatives to the regular financial system. This book explores non-conventional banking and financing mechanisms in detail, with case studies and examples in which these alternative methods have succeeded.

"This is, to best of our knowledge, the first collection of social impact business cases. At a time of deep and pervasive global challenges, it is essential for future leaders to apply management principles to social impact cases. It is equally important to ensure that the protagonists and authors of the cases reflect diverse identities and locations from around the world"--

Social impact investing is gaining ground as one of the most important investment trends in the world. While the size of the social impact investing market is still relatively small in global terms, momentum continues to grow unabated. Australia in particular is looking to develop a vibrant and transparent social impact investment market. This book considers a number of innovative strategies and pragmatic policy initiatives that can see the social impact investment market flourish in Australia and internationally. The book describes how social impact investing can enter the investment mainstream and how a high-quality regulatory framework governing the measurement, reporting and evaluation of social impact will be critical to building investor confidence and ensuring the credibility, effectiveness and transparency of this market. It also examines different approaches to measurement and evaluation that will ultimately be critical to the success of this market. The authors also recognise that governments have a pivotal role to play in growing the social impact investing market, not only in its capacity as a market facilitator and regulator but also as an active purchaser of social outcomes. This book will be informative for those who wish to learn more about how governments, private investors, investment intermediaries, social enterprises, service providers and other market participants around the world can work together to initiate and grow a vibrant, transparent and well-functioning social impact investing market.

Responsible Investing serves as a 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, introducing the reader to the rapidly evolving field of responsible investing. Building on the first edition, this second edition provides updates where appropriate, as well as new emphasis on the development of standards in terminology and metrics. Opening with the background of ESG investing, the book discusses the development of ESG risks and provides an overview of ESG rating systems. It outlines the current position of ESG investing in portfolio management through granular analysis, offers insight into common investor concerns about ESG investments, presents qualitative theories, and reviews literature modeling ESG investment performance. Finally, the authors provide readers with a foundation on the development of financial models measuring risk and return, which can be used to evaluate the performance of ESG investments. This edition features updated statistics and a new chapter on regulation, reporting, and taxonomy in ESG investing, as well as new international case studies. Following a summary approach, Responsible Investing is a valuable textbook, providing a context in which upper-level students of ESG investment and sustainable finance can specialize.

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

This book aims to clarify the concept of impact investing by combing the international experience and the practices in China, promote the standardization of the measurement and evaluation system of impact investing, contribute to the establishment of an impact investing ecosystem in China, and guide investment to consider both the social and environmental impact and profitability. This book mainly contains four parts: the definition of impact investing and the similarities and differences with other related concepts; the development, characteristics and trends of global impact investing; the development and the current situation of impact investing in China; a case study in China.

Industry specialists and thought leaders explain how financial services will evolve in the coming decade in response to heightened regulation, technological disruption, and changing demographics.

This book explores the history of social impact measurement, offering justifications for the use of social impact measurement in modern society. It seeks to uncover the tensions inherent in social impact measurement, especially between creating and measuring social value creation. As the world becomes ever more globalised in its focus to deliver sustainable solutions to social and environmental problems, frameworks such as the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide basic structure through which social impact can be assessed and compared globally. Nevertheless, constructive critiques of such approaches are required to ensure that they do not misinform stakeholders, disenfranchise the disadvantaged and exacerbate existing social problems. In providing this overview, the book seeks to offer a critical review of the social impact measurement field centred on concepts of ‘empowerment’ and ‘social action’ (Weber, 1978), whilst also demonstrating best practice and potential pitfalls to policymakers and practitioners.