Socially Responsible Investment

Over recent years there has been rapid consumer-led growth in investing in socially responsible companies to the extent that it has had an influence on corporate policies. New regulations recognise the public interest by requiring all pension funds to declare their ethical policy. Investors can no longer just consider the financial aspects of a company before investing but also have to consider the complex world of ethical investments. Should the ethical policy take precedence over the financial aspects? Should policies be inclusive or exclusive? What percentage of a company’s income has to come from unacceptable sources before the source is excluded? Should any exclusion policy also extend to those involved in selling or transporting goods deemed unacceptable? This is the first book to look at socially responsible investment from the perspective of the institutional investor, who will be led through the complex dilemmas of socially responsible investment with practical examples and advice.

Author Biography

Russell Sparkes is recognised as one of the UK’s leading authorities on socially responsible investment, and is the first person to analyse SRI from a global perspective. He has travelled widely, meeting SRI investors around the world. He is a Senior Fund Manager for the Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church, as well as being Secretary of the Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment for the Methodist Church. Russell Sparkes has twice served as a Director of the UK Social Investment Forum, as well as being actively involved in a number of other SRI initiatives.