Ethical and socially responsible investment funds: Are they ethically and responsibly marketed?
Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance
ISSN: 1358-1988
Article publication date: 10 May 2011
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the marketing of ethical and socially responsible investment (ESRI) funds to retail investors and to analysis the plausibility of the claims made in regard to their performance, achievements and prospects.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents an analysis of the claims and marketing strategy adopted in the ESRI industry's Action Guide for Financial Advisors document, produced for their National Ethical Investing Week, 2010.
Findings
The analysis indicates that the ESRI fund industry's Action Guide uses a number of unethical marketing techniques to induce retail investors into investing in ESRI funds and that many of the claims made on behalf of ESRI investing are implausible. Given the past history of mis‐selling in the investment fund sector, these findings ought to be of some concern to regulators and retail investors.
Originality/value
This is the first article that has linked the promotion and marketing of ESRI funds to possible mis‐selling practices.
Keywords
Citation
Watson, R. (2011), "Ethical and socially responsible investment funds: Are they ethically and responsibly marketed?", Journal of Financial Regulation and Compliance, Vol. 19 No. 2, pp. 100-110. https://doi.org/10.1108/13581981111123825
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited