2026-09-24T12:30:38Zhttps://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/requestoai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/3076992021-04-21T22:52:27Zcom_1810_223848com_1810_256065col_1810_223849
An Investigation into the Psychology of Socially Responsible Investment Decisions
10.17863/CAM.54792
Barwick-Barrett, Matthew
The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (US SIF) defines socially responsible
investing (SRI) as an investment discipline that considers environmental, social and corporate
governance criteria to generate long-term, competitive financial returns and positive societal
impact (US SIF, 2016a). In contrast, conventional investing strategies aim to generate longterm
competitive financial returns but do not consider societal impact.
Recent trend reports estimate that the total value of US-domiciled assets under management
using SRI strategies is $8.72 trillion (US SIF, 2016a), while in Europe it is more than €10
trillion (Eurosif, 2016). Consequently, the importance of SRI is considerable to both academics
and practitioners, as is the influence that this form of investing can have on the practices of
major corporations.
This dissertation analyses whether behavioural economic theory and theory relating to
psychological biases can potentially be utilised in the promotion of SRI to increase the quantity
of capital being invested through SRI strategies. The analysis finds that the way SRI decisions
are framed can significantly affect the propensity with which investors choose to invest through
SRI strategies and that the promoters of SRI, can potentially utilise framing and choice
architecture to increase the prevalence of this form of investing. This important finding
enhances the current academic and practitioner literature relating to SRI, whilst also adding
additional depth to the literature pertaining to behavioural economics.
University of Cambridge
2018-06
Thesis
masters
MSc
en
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sustainable
SRI