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Socially Responsible Investments in Germany, Switzerland and the United States: An Analysis of Investment Funds and Indices

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  • Schröder, Michael

Abstract

The aim of this study is the analysis of so called socially responsible investments (SRI). First, the performance of SRI equity investment funds and equity indices is investigated using Jensen´s alpha as performance measure. The analysis considers market timing strategies of the fund management and takes publicly available information into account (conditional performance). In the second part sensitivities regarding macroeconomic factors are estimated and the third part investigates the investment style of the SRI funds and indices. It is found that most of the SRI assets have a similar performance than their benchmarks. Only a few funds and indices exhibit a relatively poor performance. As SRI funds and indices seem to have some specific risk-return characteristics (investment styles) that might be characterised as special investment vehicles different from conventional assets.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:955
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Douglas Cumming & Sofia Johan, 2007. "Socially Responsible Institutional Investment in Private Equity," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 75(4), pages 395-416, November.
    2. Nunnenkamp, Peter, 2004. "Corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment: new paradigm, latest fad, or ingenious plot?," Open Access Publications from Kiel Institute for the World Economy 4322, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    3. Syed, Ali Murad, 2017. "Socially responsible: Are they profitable?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1504-1515.
    4. Ulf Schrader, 2006. "Ignorant advice – customer advisory service for ethical investment funds," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(3), pages 200-214, May.
    5. Johan, S.A. & Cumming, D., 2006. "Corporate social responsibility : domestic and international private equity institutional investment," Discussion Paper 2006-002, Tilburg University, Tilburg Law and Economic Center.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Socially responsible investing; performance measurement; investment style; investment funds;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

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