“Get Real! Individuals Prefer More Sustainable Investments” (2021), by Rob Bauer et al. Economics research paper. Original abstract below, unchanged. No free PDF was found.

Get Real! Individuals Prefer More Sustainable Investments

Rob Bauer, Tobias Ruof, Paul Smeets · April 12, 2021 · Economics

Abstract

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have created societal and political pressure for pension funds to address sustainable investing. We run two field surveys (n = 1,669, n = 3,186) with a pension fund that grants its members a real vote on its sustainable-investment policy. Two-thirds of participants are willing to expand the fund’s engagement with companies based on selected SDGs, even when they expect engagement to hurt financial performance. Support remains strong after the fund implements the choice. A key reason is participants’ strong social preferences.

Source page DOI: 10.1093/rfs/hhab037