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Are SRI funds conventional funds in disguise or do they live up to their name?

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  • Nitsche, Christin
  • Schröder, Michael

Abstract

In recent years, the socially responsible investing (SRI) industry has become an important segment of international capital markets by incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors into investment selection and management processes. This study analyses whether SRI mutual funds are conventional funds in disguise or invest in line with their ESG objectives. In contrast to other studies, the analysis exclusively focuses on the non-financial performance of SRI vis-à-vis conventional funds and applies ESG corporate ratings of three rating agencies (Oekom, Sustainalytics and ASSET4) to a European and global fund universe. The SRI and non-SRI funds are analyzed with respect to differences in their Top 10 fund holdings, their average ESG rankings and the significance of rating differences by utilizing cross-sectional regressions. At a first glance, the top holdings of both fund types seem very similar, but the results of the ranking analysis show that SRI funds have on average higher ESG rankings. Additionally, the cross-sectional regressions show that the ESG rating differences between SRI funds and conventional funds are significantly positive, i.e. SRI funds exhibit higher ESG ratings than conventional funds. These findings are robust as they hold for every single ESG factor and total scores and as well as across the different ratings applied.

Suggested Citation

  • Nitsche, Christin & Schröder, Michael, 2015. "Are SRI funds conventional funds in disguise or do they live up to their name?," ZEW Discussion Papers 15-027, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:zewdip:15027
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Martinez Meyers, Susana & Ferrero-Ferrero, Idoya & Muñoz-Torres, María Jesus, 2024. "ARE sustainable funds doing the talk and the walk? An ESG score analysis of fund portfolio holdings," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 1526-1541.
    2. Jean-Stéphane Mésonnier, 2019. "Banks' climate commitments and credit to brown industries: new evidence for France," Working papers 743, Banque de France.
    3. Laura Mervelskemper & Daniel Streit, 2017. "Enhancing Market Valuation of ESG Performance: Is Integrated Reporting Keeping its Promise?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(4), pages 536-549, May.
    4. Mohammad Badrul Muttakin & Tarek Rana & Dessalegn Getie Mihret, 2022. "Democracy, national culture and greenhouse gas emissions: An international study," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2978-2991, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mutual funds; socially responsible investments; ESG performance; ESG ratings;
    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
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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