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The risk and return of impact investing funds

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  • Jeffers, Jessica
  • Lyu, Tianshu
  • Posenau, Kelly

Abstract

We provide the first analysis of the risk exposure and risk-adjusted performance of impact investing funds, private market funds with dual financial and social goals. We introduce a dataset of impact fund cash flows and exploit distortions in VC performance measures to characterize risk profiles. Impact funds have a lower market β than comparable private market strategies. Accounting for β, impact funds underperform the public market, though not necessarily more so than comparable strategies. We consider alternative pricing models, accounting for sustainability and emerging markets risk. We show investors’ wealth portfolios and taste change the perceived financial merit of impact investing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffers, Jessica & Lyu, Tianshu & Posenau, Kelly, 2024. "The risk and return of impact investing funds," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jfinec:v:161:y:2024:i:c:s0304405x2400151x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2024.103928
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Impact investing; Sustainable investing; Risk; Venture capital; ESG;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • M14 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - Corporate Culture; Diversity; Social Responsibility

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