How Much Do Investors Care about Social Responsibility? (2024)

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2023

ISSN

0043-650X

Publisher

University of Wisconsin Law School

Abstract

Perhaps the most important corporate law debate over the last several years concerns whether directors and executives should manage the corporation to maximize value for investors or also take into account the interests of other stakeholders and society. But, do investors themselves wish to maximize returns, or are they willing to forgo returns for social purposes? And more broadly, do market participants, such as investors and consumers, differ from donors in the ways in which they prioritize monetary gains and the promotion of social goals?

This project attempts to answer these questions with evidence from an experiment conducted with 279 participants that involved real monetary gains for participants. Our empirical analysis provides four main results: First, investors are generally willing to forgo some monetary gains to promote social interests. Second, individuals are willing to forgo greater amounts when consuming and making donations than when investing. Third, whereas most investors are willing to forgo gains to promote social interests, a significant percentage of investors (thirty-two percent in our study) have a strong preference for maximizing monetary gains and are unwilling to forgo even very small amounts to advance any social goals. Fourth, there is significant heterogeneity in individuals' willingness to forgo in each of the three channels (investment, consumption, and donation), which is related to their political affiliation, gender, and income. Our evidence suggests that Democrats, women, and higher-income participants tend to forgo more frequently and in greater amounts compared to Republicans, men, and lower income participants, though these relationships vary with the cause in question. These findings have important implications for the current debate regarding corporate social responsibility and for the actions of corporate executives and investment managers.

Recommended Citation

Scott Hirst, Kobi Kastiel & Tamar Kricheli-Katz, How Much Do Investors Care about Social Responsibility? ,in 2023 Wisconsin Law Review 977 (2023).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/3664

How Much Do Investors Care about Social Responsibility? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Do Investors Care about Social Responsibility? ›

Third, whereas most investors are willing to forgo gains to promote social interests, a significant percentage of investors (thirty-two percent in our study) have a strong preference for maximizing monetary gains and are unwilling to forgo even very small amounts to advance any social goals.

How much do investors care about social responsibility? ›

Our empirical analysis provides four main results: First, investors are generally willing to forgo some monetary gains to promote social interests. Second, individuals are willing to forgo greater amounts when consuming and making donations than when investing.

What is social responsibility towards investors? ›

The following are the responsibilities of businesses towards their investors: To provide required and essential information regarding the schemes of future growth. To ensure the safety of investors' investments. To provide regular payment of interest.

What is social responsibility in investing? ›

Socially responsible investing (SRI) is an investing strategy that aims to generate both social change and financial returns for an investor. Socially responsible investments can include companies making a positive sustainable or social impact, such as a solar energy company, and exclude those making a negative impact.

What is the value of social responsibility? ›

Social responsibility benefits society and the environment while lessening negative impacts on them. Companies engaging in social responsibility can do so in a number of ways, including making changes that benefit the environment, engaging in ethical labor practices, and promoting volunteering, and philanthropy.

What do investors care most about? ›

For example, they look at your company's sustainable competitive advantages, your margin profile, and whether the company is an efficient allocator of capital. These investors want to understand your strategy and they focus on long-term value creation rather than short-term trends (exhibit).

How much do investors care about sustainability? ›

UBS Wealth Management surveyed 600 large institutional investors and found that 80% see a risk in not integrating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors in their analysis. 50% believed that ESG would improve their investment results.

Do investors care about corporate social responsibility? ›

Third, whereas most investors are willing to forgo gains to promote social interests, a significant percentage of investors (thirty-two percent in our study) have a strong preference for maximizing monetary gains and are unwilling to forgo even very small amounts to advance any social goals.

Why is corporate social responsibility important to investors? ›

Socially responsible companies cultivate positive brand recognition, increase customer loyalty, and attract top-tier employees. These elements are among the keys to achieving increased profitability and long-term financial success. Harvard Business School.

Is socially responsible investing effective? ›

Key findings. Many major studies reviewed by RBC GAM found a clear correlation between strong sustainability business practices and company performance. Findings include: Stock price performance often goes hand in hand with strong governance practices, strong environmental performance and high employee satisfaction.

Is socially responsible investment worth it? ›

One study found that while SRI funds perform similar to conventional funds, conventional funds with a slightly higher SRI tilt tend to perform better than funds with fewer socially responsible companies 8.

What is social responsibility toward shareholders or owners? ›

Organisations must provide the shareholders with regular, accurate and full information about its working as well as schemes of future growth. Business enterprise has the responsibility to provide a fair return to the shareholders or owners.

Who benefits from social responsibility? ›

Corporate social responsibility is the concept of incorporating philanthropy, ethics, and activism into business practices to benefit both society and the company itself. Adopting a CSR strategy also helps corporations build closer relationships with their employees and customers.

Why does social responsibility matter? ›

CSR matters because it can help a company build a positive reputation, improve employee engagement, attract and retain customers and investors, and even boost financial performance.

Do investors consider CSR? ›

As noted previously, investors consider the firm-specific context, such as the level of financial risk, to assess whether CSR will increase firm value.

Is CSR important to investors? ›

What Are the Benefits of Corporate Social Responsibility? Embracing CSR increases customer retention and loyalty, increases employee engagement, improves brand imaging, attracts investment opportunities and top talent, and makes a difference in bottom-line financials.

How do investors benefit from CSR? ›

Instead, when a company devotes resources to a CSR program, it sends a signal to investors about the overall health and financial performance of the company. Specifically, companies whose CSR spending exceeds investor expectations experience positive stock returns.

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