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International Evidence on Ethical Mutual Fund Performance and Investment Style

Author

Listed:
  • Koedijk, Kees
  • Bauer, Bob
  • Otten, Roger

Abstract

Using an international database containing 103 German, UK and US ethical mutual funds, we review and extend previous research on ethical mutual fund performance. By applying a multi-factor Carhart (1997) model we solve the benchmark problem most prior ethical studies suffered from. After controlling for investment style, we find little evidence of significant differences in risk-adjusted returns between ethical and conventional funds for the 1990-2001 period. Introducing time variation in betas however leads to a significant under-performance of domestic US funds and a significant out-performance of UK ethical funds, relative to their conventional peers. Finally, we differentiate previous results by documenting a learning effect. After a period of strong under-performance, older ethical funds finally are catching up, while younger funds continue to under-perform both the index and conventional peers.

Suggested Citation

  • Koedijk, Kees & Bauer, Bob & Otten, Roger, 2002. "International Evidence on Ethical Mutual Fund Performance and Investment Style," CEPR Discussion Papers 3452, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
  • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:3452
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. K.L. LAM & Dr. Kenny J.M. LUO, 2015. "Financial Advisers’ Attitude and Readiness of Advising Socially Responsible Investing," Journal of Business & Management (COES&RJ-JBM), , vol. 3(3), pages 416-425, July.
    2. Eric Keuleneer, 2006. "Investing in sustainability: Delusions and potential benefits of socially responsible investing," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 3(1), pages 29-48, June.
    3. Becchetti, Leonardo & Ciciretti, Rocco & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2009. "Corporate social responsibility and shareholder's value: an empirical analysis," Bank of Finland Research Discussion Papers 1/2009, Bank of Finland.
    4. Anas Yassine & Abdelmadjid Ibenrissoul, 2018. "Practices of the social responsibility in the listed Moroccancompanies : an analysis of Carroll's model (1991) and application to the Moroccan case
      [Pratiques de la Responsabilité Sociale dans les
      ," Working Papers hal-01728603, HAL.
    5. Stephen Fowler & C. Hope, 2007. "A Critical Review of Sustainable Business Indices and their Impact," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 76(3), pages 243-252, December.
    6. Stephen Brammer & Chris Brooks & Stephen Pavelin, 2006. "Corporate Social Performance and Stock Returns: UK Evidence from Disaggregate Measures," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 35(3), pages 97-116, September.
    7. Becchetti, Leonardo & Ceniccola, Claudia & Ciciretti, Rocco, 2010. "Stock Market Reaction to the Global Financial Crisis: the Role of Corporate Governance and Product Quality Ratings in the Lehman Brothers' Event," Sustainable Investment and Corporate Governance Working Papers 2010/14, Sustainable Investment Research Platform.
    8. Jacek Lipiec, 2016. "Does Warsaw stock exchange value corporate social responsibility?," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 12(3), pages 613-624, August.
    9. repec:zbw:bofrdp:2009_001 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Leonardo Becchetti, 2012. "Voting with the wallet," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 59(3), pages 245-268, September.
    11. Sanchez, Pablo & Rodriguez, Miguel A. & Ricart, Joan E., 2002. "Inversión socialmente responsable: evolución, tendencias e implicaciones para la dirección de las empresas, La," IESE Research Papers D/464, IESE Business School.
    12. Lutgart Van den Berghe & Céline Louche, 2005. "The Link Between Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility in Insurance," The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance - Issues and Practice, Palgrave Macmillan;The Geneva Association, vol. 30(3), pages 425-442, July.
    13. Becchetti, Leonardo & Ciciretti, Rocco & Hasan, Iftekhar, 2009. "Corporate social responsibility and shareholder's value : an empirical analysis," Research Discussion Papers 1/2009, Bank of Finland.
    14. Becchetti, Leonardo & Ciciretti, Rocco & Hasan, Iftekhar & Kobeissi, Nada, 2012. "Corporate social responsibility and shareholder's value," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(11), pages 1628-1635.
    15. Bongani Munkuli & Renee Horne, 2018. "Financial Markets Value Reputation for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – A Study of the South African Mining Sector," Africagrowth Agenda, Africagrowth Institute, vol. 15(2), pages 17-22.
    16. Leonardo Becchetti, 2013. "Ethical finance: an introduction," Chapters, in: Luigino Bruni & Stefano Zamagni (ed.), Handbook on the Economics of Reciprocity and Social Enterprise, chapter 13, pages 134-143, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    17. James Brander, 2006. "The Effect of Ethical Fund Portfolio Inclusion on Executive Compensation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 69(4), pages 317-329, December.
    18. Leonardo Becchetti & Rocco Ciciretti, 2006. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Stock Market Performance," CEIS Research Paper 79, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 22 Mar 2006.
    19. Schröder, Michael, 2003. "Socially Responsible Investments in Germany, Switzerland and the United States: An Analysis of Investment Funds and Indices," ZEW Discussion Papers 03-10, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    20. Derwall, J. & Günster, N.K. & Bauer, R. & Koedijk, C.G., 2004. "The Eco-Efficiency Premium Puzzle," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2004-043-F&A, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    21. Maria Folqué & Elena Escrig‐Olmedo & Teresa Corzo Santamaría, 2021. "Sustainable development and financial system: Integrating ESG risks through sustainable investment strategies in a climate change context," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(5), pages 876-890, September.
    22. Marco Mele, 2014. "On Asset Allocation’ Studies for Sovereign Wealth Funds," International Journal of Financial Economics, Research Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 2(4), pages 169-180.
    23. William Martin, 2009. "Socially Responsible Investing: Is Your Fiduciary Duty at Risk?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 90(4), pages 549-560, December.
    24. Angeles Fernandez-Izquierdo & Juan Matallin-Saez, 2008. "Performance of Ethical Mutual Funds in Spain: Sacrifice or Premium?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 81(2), pages 247-260, August.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ethical mutual funds; Investment style;

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors

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