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A note on Steuer and Utz’s (2023) multi-objective optimization approach for generating sustainability-efficient fronts

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  • Marohn, Marcel
  • Auer, Benjamin R.

Abstract

Motivated by the increasing importance of sustainability in investing, Steuer and Utz (2023) propose a new approach for integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) scores into the portfolio selection process. These authors claim that their multi-objective portfolio optimization problem always provides mean-variance-ESG-efficient solutions because it belongs to the class of ϵ-constraint problems. Contending that this classification is problematic, we show that the developed approach cannot guarantee efficient portfolios.

Suggested Citation

  • Marohn, Marcel & Auer, Benjamin R., 2024. "A note on Steuer and Utz’s (2023) multi-objective optimization approach for generating sustainability-efficient fronts," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 316(2), pages 792-797.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ejores:v:316:y:2024:i:2:p:792-797
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ejor.2024.03.023
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Victor DeMiguel & Lorenzo Garlappi & Raman Uppal, 2009. "Optimal Versus Naive Diversification: How Inefficient is the 1-N Portfolio Strategy?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 22(5), pages 1915-1953, May.
    2. Samuel M. Hartzmark & Abigail B. Sussman, 2019. "Do Investors Value Sustainability? A Natural Experiment Examining Ranking and Fund Flows," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 74(6), pages 2789-2837, December.
    3. Juha Joenväärä & Robert Kosowski, 2021. "The Effect of Regulatory Constraints on Fund Performance: New Evidence from UCITS Hedge Funds [Large sample properties of matching estimators for average treatment effects]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 25(1), pages 189-233.
    4. Steuer, Ralph E. & Utz, Sebastian, 2023. "Non-contour efficient fronts for identifying most preferred portfolios in sustainability investing," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 306(2), pages 742-753.
    5. Florian Berg & Julian F Kölbel & Roberto Rigobon, 2022. "Aggregate Confusion: The Divergence of ESG Ratings [Corporate social responsibility and firm risk: theory and empirical evidence]," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 26(6), pages 1315-1344.
    6. Pedersen, Lasse Heje & Fitzgibbons, Shaun & Pomorski, Lukasz, 2021. "Responsible investing: The ESG-efficient frontier," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 142(2), pages 572-597.
    7. Hong, Harrison & Kacperczyk, Marcin, 2009. "The price of sin: The effects of social norms on markets," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(1), pages 15-36, July.
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