Surveys Show CSR Trend Continues Upward

European Social Investing SurveyThe results of a European-wide social investment survey, “Green, Social and Ethical Funds in Europe,” show the market is rapidly expanding. Participants included 302 financial analysts and fund managers across 9 countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The survey was conducted by Avanzi and the SiRi Group, with the support of CSR Europe and Euronext. A third of survey respondents say they offer socially responsible investment (SRI) products now and 15 percent say they plan to introduce them. Of those that offer SRI products now, 60 percent offer them to a select group of targeted customers; only 15 percent systematically offer them to all customers. Almost half of those interviewed, though, perceive a demand for SRI products in the marketplace. When long-term performance is the same as for conventional funds, 77 percent say they prefer an SRI fund even if returns are slightly lower in the short-term. Whereas 30 percent of respondents believe social/ environmental performance affects a company’s market value in the short term, the number increases to 86 percent when looking at long-term performance. Easily accessible information on SRI performance is the main barrier to SRI expansion. 87 […]

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