The trend is clear
However you define it and subsequently measure its impact, it is becoming extremely difficult to argue against incorporating some level of ESG analysis into the investment process. While investors need to be wary of overpaying for assets based on ESG criteria alone, there is every reason to believe investing responsibly, far from leading to returns being sacrificed, will pay off.
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1 Friede G, Busch T & Bassen A (2015): ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies, Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment
2 Eccles R, Ioannou I, & Serafeim G (2011): The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Process and Performance, Working Paper Harvard Business School