Most American investors think that socially responsible mutual funds contribute to better corporate behavior by keeping companies more honest and influencing them to make safer products, according to a survey conducted by Calvert Funds, which advocates socially responsible funds.
And, for the first time since Calvert has been gauging the views of investors, this survey of 800 respondents shows that 54% of investors not in socially responsible investment (SRI) mutual funds are now interested in investing in them.
The Calvert survey, conducted by The Segmentation Company, a division of Yankelovich, shows that 55% of Americans believe it is very important that socially responsible mutual funds use their
interaction and investment practices to influence corporations to act more socially responsible.
As to the results of such efforts, survey respondents indicated that SRI mutual funds contribute the most to product safety (66%), corporate honesty (60%), environmental safety (59%), generating fairer wages for employees (55%); reducing sweat shop labor conditions in Third World
countries (52%); and making it more likely that women and minorities will be hired and promoted (both at 51%).
“These survey results show that investors are encouraged by the impact SRI has on business,” said Reggie Stanley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Calvert. “Furthermore, investors understand that through investment in SRI, they themselves can have an impact on corporate behavior.”