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Socially Responsible Investment in Japanese Pensions

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  • Henry Hongbo Jin
  • Olivia S. Mitchell
  • John Piggott

Abstract

As the level of retirement-related assets has grown, so too has public and private interest in so-called "Socially Responsible Investment" (SRI), an investment strategy that employs criteria other than the usual financial risk and return factors when selecting firms in which to invest. This study evaluates whether SRI indexes would alter portfolio risk and return patterns for the new defined contribution pension plans currently on offer in Japan. We conclude that SRI funds can be included as an option, albeit with some cost; consequently, mandatory investment in SRI portfolios cannot reasonably be justified.

Suggested Citation

  • Henry Hongbo Jin & Olivia S. Mitchell & John Piggott, 2005. "Socially Responsible Investment in Japanese Pensions," NBER Working Papers 11747, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
  • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:11747
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    1. Julian Douglass & Owen Wu & William Ziemba, 2016. "Stock Ownership Decisions in Defined Contribution Pension Plans," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: GREAT INVESTMENT IDEAS, chapter 4, pages 47-63, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
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    3. Aris Solomon & Jill Solomon & Megumi Suto, 2004. "Can the UK Experience Provide Lessons for the Evolution of SRI in Japan?," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(4), pages 552-566, October.
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    7. Kato, Hideaki Kiyoshi & Loewenstein, Uri & Tsay, Wenyuh, 2002. "Dividend policy, cash flow, and investment in Japan," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 10(4), pages 443-473, September.
    8. Hiraki, Takato & Inoue, Hideaki & Ito, Akitoshi & Kuroki, Fumiaki & Masuda, Hiroyuki, 2003. "Corporate governance and firm value in Japan: Evidence from 1985 to 1998," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 239-265, July.
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    10. Kiyohiko G. Nishimura & Makoto Saito, 2003. "On Alternatives to Aggressive Demand Policies to Revitalize the Japanese Economy," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 2(3), pages 87-126.
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    Cited by:

    1. Emma Sjöström & Richard Welford, 2009. "Facilitators and impediments for socially responsible investment: a study of Hong Kong," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(5), pages 278-288, September.
    2. Oscar V. De la Torre-Torres & Evaristo Galeana-Figueroa & José Álvarez-García, 2018. "Efficiency of the Public Pensions Funds on the Socially Responsible Equities of Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    3. repec:dau:papers:123456789/7347 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Kijung Eom & Giseok Nam, 2017. "Effect of Entry into Socially Responsible Investment Index on Cost of Equity and Firm Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-17, April.
    5. Nakai, Miwa & Yamaguchi, Keiko & Takeuchi, Kenji, 2016. "Can SRI funds better resist global financial crisis? Evidence from Japan," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 12-20.
    6. Oscar Valdemar De la Torre Torres & Luis Guadalupe Macías Trejo, 2017. "Los beneficios de la inversión socialmente responsable en el desempeño de fondos de pensiones mexicanos," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 12(3), pages 67-87, Julio-Sep.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • 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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