Socially responsible investing (SRI) is an investment approach that combines investors’ financial as well as nonfinancial goals in the security selection process. Technically, investors can engage in SRI either by directly investing in companies that implement corporate social activities or by investing their money in SRI funds, which apply screening criteria to select securities. The screening process applied by the SRI funds has led to controversy among academics regarding whether the use of SRI screens in the security selection process influences the financial performance of the funds. The empirical study analyzes whether or not the screening process applied by such funds influences their financial performance. Previous research mostly has focused on analyzing the performance of SRI equity funds established in the United States. The study at hand not only includes SRI equity funds, but also SRI balanced and fixed income funds established in Europe, the biggest market for SRI globally. The study provides unexpected results that are not only of interest for investors, who want to get a better understanding of the effect on the financial performance of their portfolios in case SRI funds are added. The results are also relevant for SRI fund managers, who are interested in promoting their funds and attracting (new) investors, and for academics, whose research interests are e. g., located in the fields of SRI, fund portfolio performances and market efficiencies.

The lack of transparency and accountability in organizations has made it difficult to identify, measure, and disclose their sustainable practices and impacts, creating a challenge for global sustainability efforts. Furthermore, there is a lack of consensus on the determinants and impacts of non-financial information reporting. In response to these challenges, Enhancing Sustainability Through Non-Financial Reporting, a book edited by Albertina Monteiro, Ana Pinto Borges, and Elvira Vieira, offers a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between sustainability practices and reporting, and the accounting, finance, and management fields. This book provides a platform for both academics and practitioners to share their empirical and theoretical research on the contributions of organizations to sustainable development, the determinants and impacts of non-financial information reporting, the role of sustainability reporting standards, and the challenges faced by accounting, finance, management, and auditing. It is an essential resource for anyone seeking to enhance sustainability through non-financial reporting and is relevant to a wide range of audiences, including academics, practitioners, and other interested individuals and groups.

This book analyses sustainable finance policies implemented by the European Commission since January 2020. Gathering contributors from a range of European and international universities, it particularly aims to explore how EU strategy on green finance encourages and stimulates socially responsible investments that provide solutions to the challenges of the energy transition. The book provides a comprehensive coverage of economic, financial and legal issues concerning green finance and ESG factor integration in the EU. The first part of the book discusses theoretical and empirical perspectives on socially responsible investments (SRIs) and ESG integration, while the second section focuses specifically on the role of corporate governance in both institutional and private investment spheres. The third part of the book explores valuation and risk, including a discussion of current trends in SRI funding in the new European ESG Regulatory Framework. The final section of the book discusses legal and regulatory issues including an exploration of blue finance and its incorporation into EU financial strategy. This edited collection will be of interest to researchers and policymakers working in green finance, sustainability, energy economics and financial law.

Mutual Funds and Exchange-Traded Funds: Building Blocks to Wealth provides a fresh look at this intriguing but often complex subject. Its coverage spans the gamut from theoretical to practical coverage.

The notion of sustainable development is applied to financial activities through sustainable finance. As a result, sustainable finance attempts to produce long-term value by allocating capital to projects that, in addition to providing economic benefits, are furthermore beneficial to society and do not burden the environment. This book sheds light on contemporary challenges in sustainable finance, addressing two key perspectives: measurement and performance, and products and business models. In particular, the volume examines theoretically and empirically the relations between business models and non-financial impact, both environmental and social; as for the social goals, a special focus of the book is dedicated to the gender gap.

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.

This Palgrave Pivot aims to build a bridge between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainable finance in financial markets. It investigates classic CSR topics in the light of a modern conception of sustainability. The first part emphasizes four relevant topics in the CSR panorama of financial institutions: banks remuneration practices; human capital disclosure; the impact of environmental performance on banks, and finally, the institutional investors’ attitude towards socially responsible investments (SRIs). The second part explores CSR practices within the financial markets and discusses risk-return profiles of SRI and non-SRI indexes in different time frames. It investigates whether thematic social responsible funds obtain different risk-return than traditional funds, and finally, assesses whether equity crowdfunding could foster social innovation. This book is aimed at scholars and students who are interested in social impact investing and practitioners involved in the social impact market.

Covers the most recent topics in the field of environmental management and provides a broad focus on the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of environmental management Provides an up-to-date survey of the field from the perspective of different disciplines Covers the topic of environmental management from multiple perspectives, namely, natural sciences, engineering, business, social sciences, and methods and tools perspectives Combines both academic rigor and practical approach through literature reviews and theories and examples and case studies from diverse geographic areas and policy domains Explores local and global issues of environmental management and analyzes the role of various contributors in the environmental management process Chapter contents are appropriately demonstrated with numerous pictures, charts, graphs, and tables, and accompanied by a detailed reference list for further readings

This proceedings volume presents current research and innovative solutions into capital markets, particularly in Poland. Featuring contributions presented at the 10th Capital Market Effective Investments (CMEI 2018) conference held in Międzyzdroje, Poland, this book explores the future of capital markets in Poland as well as comparing it with the capital markets of other developed regions around the world. Divided into four parts, the enclosed papers provide a background into the theoretical foundations of capital market investments, explores different approaches—both classical and contemporary—to investment decision making, analyzes the behaviors of investors using experimental economics and behavioral finance, and explores practical issues related to financial market investments, including real case studies. In addition, each part of the book begins with an introductory chapter written by thematic editors that provides an outline of the subject area and a summary of the papers presented.

Risk affects many different companies, industries, and institutions, and the COVID-19 pandemic has caused more challenges than before to arise. In the wake of these new challenges, new risk management strategies must arise. Risk affects many companies differently, though in the aftermath of a global pandemic, similar management strategies may be adapted to maintain a flourishing business. Financial risk management has become increasingly important in the last years, and a profound understanding of this subject is vital. The Handbook of Research on New Challenges and Global Outlooks in Financial Risk Management discusses the financial instruments firms use to manage the difference kinds of financial risks and risk management practices in a variety of different countries. This book offers an international focus of risk management, comparing different practices from all over the world. Covering topics such as bank stability, environmental assets, and perceived risk theory, this book is a valuable research source for regulatory authorities, accountants, managers, academicians, students, researchers, graduate students, researchers, faculty, and practitioners.