Current:Home > MarketsImpact investing, part 2: Can money meet morals? -FutureWise Finance
Impact investing, part 2: Can money meet morals?
View
Date:2025-04-18 12:09:01
In part one of our series on ESG investing yesterday, a former sustainable investor came down pretty hard on the concept. He articulated some of the most compelling arguments against ESG: it's challenging for money managers to actually consider the social impact of their investments without betraying their duty to maximize profits for their clients, and companies will inevitably care much more about the reputational benefits they get from promoting ESG than the true impact of actually practicing it
In today's episode, we hear from two voices on the other side of the debate. 15 years ago, ESG was in its Wild West era. Almost no companies released data on the social or environmental impact of their operations, or even bothered to keep track in the first place. ESG investing jobs just didn't exist. And since then ... it seems like things have gotten better? Data shows that many ESG-focused portfolios outperform traditional investments. Social impact has become a much higher corporate priority. Yes, ESG might not be perfect — but should it be here to stay?
Music by Drop Electric. Find us: Twitter / Facebook / Newsletter.
Subscribe to our show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, PocketCasts and NPR One.
For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.
veryGood! (313)
Related
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Despite prohibition, would-be buyers trying to snap up land burned in Maui wildfires
- 'Margaritaville' singer Jimmy Buffett dies at 76
- Some businesses in Vermont’s flood-wracked capital city reopen
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- 'Howdy Doody': Video shows Nebraska man driving with huge bull in passenger seat
- Burning Man 2023: With no estimate of reopening time, Burners party in the rain and mud
- As Africa opens a climate summit, poor weather forecasting keeps the continent underprepared
- Sam Taylor
- ‘Margaritaville’ singer Jimmy Buffett, who turned beach-bum life into an empire, dies at 76
Ranking
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Workplace safety officials slap Albuquerque, contractor with $1.1M fine for asbestos exposure
- What is compassion fatigue? Experts say taking care of others can hurt your mental health.
- Justice Department sues utility company over 2020 Bobcat Fire
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Restaurants open Labor Day 2023: See Starbucks, McDonald's, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell hours
- Man gets 2-year prison sentence in pandemic fraud case to buy alpaca farm
- AI project imagines adult faces of children who disappeared during Argentina’s military dictatorship
Recommendation
'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
Delaware man who police blocked from warning of speed trap wins $50K judgment
Florida flamingos spotted in unusual places after Idalia: 'Where are (they) going?'
Stakes are high for Michigan Wolverines QB J.J. McCarthy after playoff appearance
Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
Pro-Kremlin rapper who calls Putin a die-hard superhero takes over Domino's Pizza outlets in Russia
NASA said its orbiter likely found the crash site of Russia's failed Luna-25 moon mission
Man accused of abducting, murdering beloved teacher who went missing on walk