NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, June 12, 2017

What started as a minor theme just decades ago looks to be turning the corner with the force of more than 75 million investors in the United States alone.

Investors have long supported the idea of a greater good through philanthropic projects. But it wasn’t until late in the 20th century that they started accepting dual-missions of profitability and social responsibility at companies in which they invested. The idea has fought a tough argument against the traditional singular mandate of increasing wealth.

Now it seems the theme is becoming a major force, and new evidence points to surprising upside for investors. As the market shifts to rewarding socially-responsible companies, investors need to know what to look for and how to take advantage of the new paradigm.