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Socially Responsible Investing Funds in Asia Pacific

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Emerging Markets and Financial Resilience

Abstract

The term socially responsible investing (SRI) is defined as an investment strategy that provides investors financial gain as well as contributes to society and the environment (Benson et al., 2008). SRI is also defined as an investment that integrates environmental, social and governance issues when forming the investment portfolio (Kiesel et al., 2010). As stated in Hamilton et al. (1993), SRI can be described as ‘doing good while doing well’ because the aim of SRI is to enhance the sustainability level in our surroundings besides providing financial returns to investors. Alternative terms include mission investing, responsible investing, double or triple bottom line investing, ethical investing, sustainable investing or green investing.1 In total, there are four types of SRI portfolios: environmental, religious or ethical, social and corporate governance (Fung et al., 2010). SRI not only uses financial criteria solely to determine which investment to invest in but also takes into account the contribution and impact of that particular investment towards society, environment and people (Ballestero et al., 2011).

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© 2013 Wei-Rong Ang and Hooi Hooi Lean

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Ang, WR., Lean, H.H. (2013). Socially Responsible Investing Funds in Asia Pacific. In: Hooy, CW., Ali, R., Rhee, S.G. (eds) Emerging Markets and Financial Resilience. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137266613_10

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