Socially Responsible Investing and The Power to do Good: Whose Dollars are being Heard?

Purpose – The purpose of this chapter is to better understand the changing contours of corporate responsibility. This is accomplished by determining what kind of American is interested in socially responsible investing (SRI).

Methodology/Approach – Analyzing nationally representative survey data, I explore what factors are associated with self-proclaimed interest in SRI.

Findings – I find that interest in SRI is generally not patterned along class or religious lines. Instead, the power to “do good” is more evenly distributed across American society.

Research limitations – Future surveys should measure behavioral involvement in SRI and provide better religious affiliation measures.

Social implications – Higher levels of SRI involvement should bolster the SRI industry's ability to pressure corporate America to behave more ethically.

Originality/Value – This is the first analysis of nationally representative data on interest in SRI.