The heterogeneity of socially responsible investment
Journal of Business Ethics 87 (4):519 - 533 (2009)
| Abstract | Many writers have commented on the heterogeneity of the socially responsible investment (SRI) movement. However, few have actually tried to understand and explain it, and even fewer have discussed whether the opposite – standardisation – is possible and desirable. In this article, we take a broader perspective on the issue of the heterogeneity of SRI. We distinguish between four levels on which heterogeneity can be found: the terminological, definitional, strategic and practical. Whilst there is much talk about the definitional ambiguities of SRI, we suggest that there is actually some agreement on the definitional level. There are at least three explanations which we suggest can account for the heterogeneity on the other levels: cultural and ideological differences between different regions, differences in values, norms and ideology between various SRI stakeholders, and the market setting of SRI. Discussing the implications of the three explanations for the SRI market, we suggest that there is reason to be sceptical about the possibilities of standardisation if not standardisation is imposed top-down. Whether this kind of standardisation is desirable or not, we argue, depends on what the motives for it would be. To the extent that standardisation may facilitate the mainstreaming of SRI, it could be a good thing – but we entertain doubts about whether mainstreaming really requires standardisation. | |||||||||
| Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
Upload a copy of this paper Check publisher's policy on self-archival Papers currently archived: 5,679 |
| External links |
 |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesKyoko Sakuma & Céline Louche (2008). Socially Responsible Investment in Japan: Its Mechanism and Drivers. Journal of Business Ethics 82 (2):425 - 448.
Jonas Nilsson (2008). Investment with a Conscience: Examining the Impact of Pro-Social Attitudes and Perceived Financial Performance on Socially Responsible Investment Behavior. Journal of Business Ethics 83 (2):307 - 325.
Peter Waring & John Lewer (2004). The Impact of Socially Responsible Investment on Human Resource Management: A Conceptual Framework. Journal of Business Ethics 52 (1):99-108.
Shuangge Wen (2009). Institutional Investor Activism on Socially Responsible Investment: Effects and Expectations. Business Ethics 18 (3):308-333.
Jacob Park (2005). Beyond Good Intentions. International Corporate Responsibility Series 2:101-108.
Joakim Sandberg (2011). Socially Responsible Investment and Fiduciary Duty: Putting the Freshfields Report Into Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics 101 (1):143-162.
Karen L. Benson, Timothy J. Brailsford & Jacquelyn E. Humphrey (2006). Do Socially Responsible Fund Managers Really Invest Differently? Journal of Business Ethics 65 (4):337 - 357.
Josep M. Lozano, Laura Albareda & M. Rosario Balaguer (2006). Socially Responsible Investment in the Spanish Financial Market. Journal of Business Ethics 69 (3):305 - 316.
Mark Jonathan Rhodes (forthcoming). Information Asymmetry and Socially Responsible Investment. Journal of Business Ethics.
Christopher J. Cowton & Joakim Sandberg (2012). Socially Responsible Investment. In Ruth Chadwick (ed.), Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, 2nd ed. Academic Press.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2009-01-28Total downloads13 ( #87,887 of 549,070 )Recent downloads (6 months)1 ( #63,185 of 549,070 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
