March 19, 2010
UTNE READER

The Difference a Decade Can Make

June 24, 2002 Issue
By Julie Madsen 
Article Tools
Print
Comments
RSS
Bookmark and Share
S

RELATED CONTENT

ocially responsible investments (SRIs) have always been a tough sell, due to the wary public's (unsubstantiated) notion that ethics and profits are incompatible. Barbara Krumsiek offers her predictions for social investments for the next decade in GreenMoneyJournal.com.

Krumsiek expects that such investments will become much more desirable as truths about businesses such as Enron come to light, and as we look increasingly to the world at large and how our actions affect the lives of others and in turn, our own.

"Social investing has addressed this fragility for decades, and in thatrespect, I am confident we are contributing to solutions, not adding to theturmoil," Krumsiek writes. "Human dignity, the right to a fair workplace, and environmental performance have long been at the root of social investing."

These specifications, according to Krumsiek, will lead to growth in assets and influence in socially responsible companies, thereby easing the public's hesitancy to make such investments. This will discredit the "either/or myth" that ethical and financial performances are mutually exclusive, compelling people to invest in successful but harmful companies.

In addition, Krumsiek sees a rise in SRI funds' focus on community investments (where mutual funds invest a percentage of assets into "communities underserved by traditional financial institutions") and more growth and awareness globally for the need for SRIs: "Outside the U.S., SRI is more commonly known as "investing for sustainability," reflecting the fact that environmental concerns have been the key driver of investment screens. Now, as the UN has published its Global Compact--"pillars required to sustain the new global economy and make globalization work for all the world’s people"--pressure is building for broadened social screening."
--Julie Madsen
Go there>>
Bookmark and Share
RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print

Comments

Add Your Comment

We’d like to know what you think. To comment, please use this form. E-mail addresses are never displayed on comments, but they are required to confirm your comments. First time registrants: You will receive an email confirming your email address. Once you confirm, your comment will be posted. Questions about our comments policy? Click here.

Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.

New to Utne Reader?
Sign up to share comments.
Asterisks(*) indicate required fields.
Name*
Your name appears next to your comment.

E-mail Address*
This will be your login ID.

City State Zip Code

Password*


Confirm Password*

Comments
1500 character limit (Offensive materials and/or spam will be removed, no HTML allowed)
Please Note: Your sign-up must be verified via e-mail before your comment is published.
FEATURED ARTICLES
MOST POPULAR


Pay Now & Save $6!
First Name: *
 Last Name: *
Address: *
 City: *
State/Province: *
 Zip/Postal Code:*
Country:
 Email:*
(* indicates a required item)
Canadian subs: 1 year, (includes postage & GST). Foreign subs: 1 year, . U.S. funds.
Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Non US and Canadian Subscribers - Click Here
Want to gain a fresh perspective? Read stories that matter? Feel optimistic about the future? It's all here! Utne Reader offers provocative writing from diverse perspectives, insightful analysis of art and media, down-to-earth news and in-depth coverage of eye-opening issues that affect your life.

Save Even More Money By Paying NOW!

Pay now with a credit card and take advantage of our Earth-Friendly automatic renewal savings plan. You save an additional $6 and get 6 issues of Utne Reader for only $29.95 (USA only).

Or Bill Me Later and pay just $36 for 6 issues of Utne Reader!