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The effect of business cycle, market return and momentum on financial performance of socially responsible investing mutual funds

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  • Karen Paul

Abstract

Purpose - This study examines the effect of business cycle, market return and momentum on the financial performance of socially responsible investing (SRI) mutual funds using data from two complete business cycles as defined by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Design/methodology/approach - A “fund of funds” approach is used to identify the extent to which SRI financial performance is affected by the macroeconomic climate. The Fama-French Three-Factor model and the Carhart four-factor model are used to bring the results into alignment with commonly used finance methodologies. Findings - The results indicate that SRI tends to preserve value during economic contraction more than it adds value during economic expansion. Market return is important during both expansion and contraction, while momentum is important only during expansion. Research limitations/implications - These findings suggest that double screening, for both financial and social performance, enables portfolio managers of SRI funds to have insight into those companies that are particularly vulnerable during times of economic contraction. Practical implications - These results bring added clarity to the mixed findings found by previous researchers examining the relationship between corporate social performance (CSP) and financial performance. Social implications - This study reinforces the idea that the financial performance of companies with high ethical standards is comparable to the financial performance of the market as a whole during times of economic expansion and superior to the market as a whole during times of economic contraction. Originality/value - Business cycle analysis, along with the Fama-French Three-Factor model and the Carhart four-factor model, brings SRI research more into the realm of conventional financial analysis than previous studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Paul, 2017. "The effect of business cycle, market return and momentum on financial performance of socially responsible investing mutual funds," Social Responsibility Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(3), pages 513-528, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:srjpps:srj-09-2016-0154
    DOI: 10.1108/SRJ-09-2016-0154
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel Cupriak & Katarzyna Kuziak & Tomasz Popczyk, 2020. "Risk Management Opportunities between Socially Responsible Investments and Selected Commodities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-20, March.
    2. Gaurav Talan & Gagan Deep Sharma, 2019. "Doing Well by Doing Good: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda for Sustainable Investment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Besbes Yasmine & Maher Kooli, 2022. "Smart beta ESG disclosure," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(7), pages 567-580, December.
    4. Federica Ielasi & Monica Rossolini, 2019. "Responsible or Thematic? The True Nature of Sustainability-Themed Mutual Funds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Renu Jonwall & Seema Gupta & Shuchi Pahuja, 2024. "Do socially responsible indices outperform conventional indices? Evidence from before and after the onset of Covid‐19," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 4995-5011, September.
    6. Rabi Narayan Kar & Amanpreet Kaur, 2023. "Do Disclosures Drive Socially Responsible Investing?," Paradigm, , vol. 27(1), pages 7-26, June.
    7. Federica Ielasi & Paolo Ceccherini & Pietro Zito, 2020. "Integrating ESG Analysis into Smart Beta Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    8. Paolo Capelli & Federica Ielasi & Angeloantonio Russo, 2021. "Forecasting volatility by integrating financial risk with environmental, social, and governance risk," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(5), pages 1483-1495, September.
    9. Sharma, Gagan Deep & Tiwari, Aviral Kumar & Talan, Gaurav & Jain, Mansi, 2021. "Revisiting the sustainable versus conventional investment dilemma in COVID-19 times," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    10. Vanita Tripathi & Amanpreet Kaur, 2022. "Does Socially Responsible Investing Pay in Developing Countries? A Comparative Study Across Select Developed and Developing Markets," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 11(2), pages 189-205, June.
    11. Lars Hornuf & Gül Yüksel, 2022. "The Performance of Socially Responsible Investments: A Meta-Analysis," CESifo Working Paper Series 9724, CESifo.

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