Socially responsible funds and market crises

John Nofsinger and Abhishek Varma

Journal of Banking & Finance, 2014, vol. 48, issue C, 180-193

Abstract: Compared to matched conventional mutual funds, socially responsible mutual funds outperform during periods of market crises. This dampening of downside risk comes at the cost of underperforming during non-crisis periods. Investors seeking downside protection would value the asymmetry of these returns. This asymmetric return pattern is driven by the mutual funds that focus on environmental, social, or governance (ESG) attributes and is especially pronounced in ESG funds that use positive screening techniques. Furthermore, the observed patterns are attributed to the funds’ socially responsible attributes and not the differences in fund portfolio management or the characteristics of the companies in fund portfolios.

Keywords: SRI; ESG; Socially responsible; Governance; Investments; Downside risk; Prospect theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G01 G20 M14 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (219)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbfina:v:48:y:2014:i:c:p:180-193

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.12.016

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