Are All ESG Funds Created Equal? Only Some Funds Are Committed
研究发现,ESG基金对投资企业的参与激励存在差异,真正投入的基金(即承诺型ESG基金)会进行更多信息收集、采取长期策略、更积极参与ESG议题,并取得更好的实际影响和业绩表现。
Abstract Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds have heterogeneous incentives to engage with portfolio firms. If funds view ESG as a value driver, then these incentives will affect funds’ behavior and thus their impact on firms. We compare ESG funds with similar levels of ESG investments but different incentives to engage. Funds with higher incentives to engage, that is, committed ESG funds, conduct more ESG-related information acquisition, pursue longer term investment strategies, engage more intensely on ESG issues, and have greater real impacts. Moreover, committed ESG funds have outperformed other ESG funds within subportfolios with higher and more effective ESG engagement.