Date of Award
Spring 2022
Degree Type
Thesis
Department
Moore School of Business
Director of Thesis
Dr. Xuelin Li
First Reader
Paul Freed, Ph.D. Finance Candidate
Second Reader
Paul Freed, Ph.D. Finance Candidate
Abstract
ESG Investing is the application of environmental, social, and governance factors to identify material investment risks and growth opportunities. Though traditionally viewed as non-financial factors, this paper asserts that ESG factors are indeed financially material. This work first surveys the current state of ESG Investing, its shortcomings, and its success despite these inherent issues. Section II adds a new perspective to ESG research by examining the applications of ESG scores in portfolio management. The study conducts t-tests to answer whether the typical holdings of an ESG mutual fund are more sustainable than those of traditional funds. The paper then focuses on the potential for ESG factors to be quantified, including raising new questions about this quantitative potential. Lastly, suggestions are made on how ESG could be cemented as a force of societal change instead of becoming another inconsequential ethical investing fad.
First Page
1
Last Page
39
Recommended Citation
Cullen, Erin, "ESG Investing: From Fad to Force" (2022). Senior Theses. 494.
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/senior_theses/494
Rights
© 2022, Erin Cullen
Included in
Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Corporate Finance Commons, Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Finance and Financial Management Commons, Sustainability Commons