scholarly journals Do ESG Funds Deliver on Their Promises?

2021 ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Quinn Curtis ◽  
Jill Fisch ◽  
Adriana Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mutual Funds ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Regulatory Policy ◽  
Securities And Exchange Commission ◽  
Department Of Labor ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Asset Managers ◽  
Do So

Corporations have received growing criticism for contributing to climate change, perpetuating racial and gender inequality, and failing to address other pressing social issues. In response to these concerns, shareholders are increasingly focusing on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria in selecting investments, and asset managers are responding by offering a growing number of ESG mutual funds. The flow of assets into ESG is one of the most dramatic trends in asset management. But are these funds giving investors what they promise? This question has attracted the attention of regulators, with the Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) both taking steps to rein in ESG funds. The change in administration has created an opportunity to rethink these steps, but the rapid growth and evolution of the market mean regulators are acting without a clear picture of ESG investing. We fill this gap by offering the most complete empirical overview of ESG mutual funds to date. Combining comprehensive data on mutual funds with proprietary data from the several of the most significant ESG ratings firms, we provide a unique picture of the current ESG environment with an eye to informing regulatory policy. We evaluate a number of criticisms of ESG funds made by academics and policymakers and find them lacking. We find that ESG funds offer their investors increased ESG exposure. They also vote their shares differently from non-ESG funds and are more supportive of ESG principles. Our analysis shows that they do so without increasing costs or reducing returns. We conclude that ESG funds generally offer investors a differentiated and competitive investment product that is consistent with their labeling. In short, we see no reason to single out ESG funds for special regulation.

The Millennial/Gen Z Leftists Are Emerging: Are Sociologists Ready for Them?

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 408-427
Author(s):  
Elaine Bell Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Do So

Sociology is being challenged by the new generation of students and scholars who have another view of society. Millennial/Gen Zs are the most progressive generation since the 1960s. We have had many opportunities to discuss and imagine power, diversity, and social change when we teach them in our classes or attend their campus events. Some Millennial/Gen Z believe, especially those in academia, that social scientists are tied to old theories and ideologies about race and gender, among other inconsistencies. These old ideas do not resonate with their views regarding equity. Millennials are not afraid to challenge the status quo. They do so already by supporting multiple gender and race identities. Several questions come to mind. How do we as sociologists with our sense of history and other issues such as racial and gender inequality help them along the way? Are we ready for this generation? Are they ready for us?

scholarly journals GENDER DIVISION OF LABOUR AND POLYGAMY

ALQALAM ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Siti Aisyah
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Division Of Labour ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Marriage Law ◽  
Head Of Household ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The One ◽  
Clear Statement ◽  
Gender Division Of Labour ◽  
Do So

The Indonesian patriarchal culture and gender inequality is reflected in state policies, regulations and laws. As a pluralistic country comprising of different ethnic groups with specific cultures and traditions, Indonesia has four formal religions: Islam, Christianity, Hindu and Buddhism. Because of this, Indonesian law reflects cultural and religious diversity, including customary law or Adat law, the Marriage Law of 1974 as well as civil and criminal law. Two serious concerns of Marriage Law of 1974 are in relation to gender division of labour and polygamy which undermine Indonesian Muslim women. This paper discusses such an issue to allow women to get equaliry before the law and highlights its contribution to domestic violence.There are two contradictory stipulations with respect to the Marriage Law of 1974: equality in marriage and gender division of labour within marriage. On the one  hand, Article 31 (1) and Article 3 3 clearly state that there is no difference between husband and wife with respect to their basic rights such as love; respect, or fidelity. On the other hand, both of these Articles are contradicted with other articles which  differentiate between a husband's and wife's responsibilities. For example, Article 31 (3) and Article 34 stipulate a clear division between the roles of husbands and wives within marriage. This has become a reference point for Indonesian views in determining gender relations in marriage.Marriage Law of 1974 still which supports gender division of labour between wife and husband should be revised by providing a clear statement that these roles are conditional. This means that husbands can be domestic carers including taking care of children if they have no jobs, while wives can be finacial providers or the head of household if they are capable to do so. In this context, gender roles can be exchanged and are not strictly for a certain gender.  

scholarly journals Performance Appraisal of Asset Management Companies in Bangladesh

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Avijit Mallik ◽  
Saad Niamatullah ◽  
Swarup Saha
Keyword(s):  
Performance Appraisal ◽  
Mutual Funds ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Mutual Fund ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Index Funds ◽  
Small Investors ◽  
Zero Sum ◽  
Managed Funds ◽  
Asset Managers

Mutual funds are a type of collective investment scheme where a large number of small investors pool their savings together and entrust it to an asset manager, who manages the capital to maximize returns in exchange for a management fee. While mutual funds and other collective investment schemes are popular in developed markets, with assets under management (AUM) to GDP ratio of 62% globally, they are yet to gain popularity in Bangladesh, where AUM-to-GDP ratio stands at only 0.53%. However, mutual funds and asset management companies have been growing at high rates, with 37 closed-end and 42 open-end funds now in operation, and there is enormous potential for growth in the mutual fund industry in Bangladesh. Since mutual funds are a new product in the Bangladeshi market, a detailed study was performed in order to distinguish skilled asset managers from unskilled asset managers. In this study, “skill” has been defined as the ability to beat the broad-market DSEX index on after-fee basis, with the underlying logic that managers - all of whom charge a management fee - should at least be able to beat a passive investment in the broad DSEX. For purposes of the study, the weekly NAV at market value was of 76 mutual funds managed by 16 asset management companies (AMCs) were collected. The weekly returns for the DSEX and each fund under consideration were calculated separately. Four well-known measures were used to rank each mutual fund utilizing the weekly returns. The measures were Jensen’s Alpha, the Sharpe Ratio, the Treynor Ratio and the Modigliani M2 Alpha ratio. For AMCs managing multiple funds, the measures were asset-weighted to calculate the measure for the AMC as a whole. Our findings illustrated that only 5 out of 16 AMCs managed to beat the DSEX index and earn an alpha over the benchmark. Our findings were in line with academic consensus which states that active management is a zero-sum game and that the majority of actively managed funds will underperform the index on an after-fee basis. Our recommendation is for AMCs to introduce passively-managed index funds which will at least keep up with the market return and minimize fees and trading costs.

Prepare for the magnifying glass: SEC hikes scrutiny of asset managers – 4 steps to consider

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-51
Author(s):  
Perrie Michael Weiner ◽  
Patrick Hunnius ◽  
Grant Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Mutual Funds ◽  
Asset Management ◽  
Hedge Funds ◽  
Mutual Fund ◽  
Sudden Change ◽  
Protective Measure ◽  
Mutual Fund Managers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fund Managers ◽  
Asset Managers

Purpose – To discuss the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) likely preparation of new rules to increase the monitoring and oversight of various asset funds, including hedge funds and alternative mutual funds, and recommends protective measure for fund managers to take. Design/methodology/approach – Discusses the SEC’s increasing concerns about risks related to the asset management industry and how those concerns may lead to additional scrutiny and regulation. Recommends four steps for alternative mutual fund managers to take at this time to protect their interests. Findings – The SEC’s potential regulatory action is in response to apparent increasing concern that the multitrillion-dollar asset management industry could create substantial instability to the financial system with the occurrence of a significant event, such as a sudden change in interest rates or widespread investor redemptions. It has been suggested that the proposed sweep of alternative mutual funds is part of a larger strategy by the SEC to bring the alternative mutual funds, and similarly situated entities such as asset managers and hedge funds, under the same regulatory umbrella imposed upon large banks and similarly situated financial institutions in response to the 2008 recession. Practical implications – Preparation will go a long way in dealing with what appears to be a developing mine field of new regulations, and potential enforcement actions, from the federal government. Originality/value – Knowing that increasing SEC scrutiny, such as inquiries and subpoenas, may be just around the corner, the precautionary measures outlined in this article will help alternative mutual fund managers protect their interests.

scholarly journals Stop Blaming me for What Others Did to you: New Alternative Masculinity’s Communicative Acts Against Blaming Discourses

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tinka Schubert ◽  
Consol Aguilar ◽  
Kyung Hi Kim ◽  
Aitor Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Communicative Acts ◽  
Alternative Masculinities ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Do So

Some feminist discourses blame some men for gender inequality, gender domination, and gender-based violence. Some women use such discourse as a perfect scenario to criticize some men’s behavior. Indeed, they usually do so with Oppressed Traditional Masculinities (OTM) but not with Dominant Traditional Masculinities (DTM), who are the men who were violent with those women and with whom some of those women chose to have relationships. However, there have always been men who have been on the side of women and have never committed violence against them. Therefore, New Alternative Masculinities (NAM) reject being indicated as guilty of the violence committed against women by DTM. Through a communicative approach, applying six semi-structured interviews with a communicative orientation and a communicative data analysis of all information, this article explores both women’s communicative acts that blame OTM for what DTM have done to women and NAM’s reactions to these accusations to stop such blaming to make it possible to overcome hegemonic discourses.

Corruption, gender inequality and logistics performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-397
Author(s):  
Paul D. Larson
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
National Level ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Test Theory ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secondary Data Sources ◽  
And Gender

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop and test theory-driven hypotheses on the influence of corruption and gender inequality on logistics performance. Design/methodology/approach This paper develops hypotheses based on a review of the literature and theory linking corruption, gender inequality and logistics performance. Testing the hypotheses draws on the following secondary data sources: the World Bank Logistics Performance Index, Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index and the United Nations Development Programme Gender Inequality Index. Regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses. Findings A significant direct effect is evident between corruption perceptions and perceived logistics performance. Corruption is detrimental to logistics. Further, there is evidence of an indirect effect, via gender inequality. Gender inequality is also linked directly to lower logistics performance. Gross domestic product/capita enters the analysis as a control variable. Research limitations/implications While the analysis uses secondary data, sources are credible and their methods – while not perfect – are logical and appear to be reasonable. It is possible that excluded variables could further explain the relationships under study. This implies future research opportunities, perhaps involving case studies of specific nations. Practical implications The results should inspire businesses, non-governmental organizations and governments to invest in, aid, advocate for and legislate toward greater gender equality – and against corruption. Logistics educators have an important role in disseminating this message. Social implications Gender inequality and corruption are current, global social issues. Moving forward toward equality and away from corruption are the right moves. Such moves appear to also yield better logistics. Originality/value This paper is among the first linking corruption and gender inequality to logistics performance. It shows how social issues impact logistics performance at a national level.

Mainstreaming Gender: An Examination of Feminist Methodology in Social Work Research

Social Work ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie R Lauve-Moon ◽  
Shelby Enman ◽  
Vanessa Hentz
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Feminist Methodology ◽  
Structural Inequality ◽  
Social Work Research ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Work Goals

Abstract Despite gender being central to any given social issue and the profession of social work’s commitment to social justice, gender and gender inequality remain tangential to mainstream social work goals as partially indicated by the Grand Challenges for Social Work initiative led by the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare. Feminist methodologists prioritize the investigation of gender inequality by elevating the voices of oppressed groups, particularly women, using qualitative and mixed-methods studies, focusing on structural social change, and emphasizing the need for intersectional inquiry. Feminist and other critical methodologies frame structural inequality as central to the examination of all social issues and research questions. This study investigates the extent to which gender and gender inequality are investigated in mainstream social work research. Specifically, drawing on 404 research articles from three mainstream social work journals, this research relies on content analysis to demonstrate the dearth of studies examining gender and gender inequality in mainstream social work research. This work also presents opportunities for social workers to position gender as central to understanding persisting structural inequalities of the 21st century and work toward a more equitable social order.

Every Detail Counts: Robert Stoller, Perversion and the Production of Pornography

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-52
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Escoffier
Keyword(s):  
Film Industry ◽  
Ethnographic Study ◽  
Systematic Method ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Sexuality And Gender ◽  
Pornographic Film ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Do So

After the publication of his pioneering book Sexual Excitement in 1979, Robert Stoller devoted the last 12 years of his life to the study of the pornographic film industry. To do so, he conducted an ethnographic study of people working in the industry in order to find out how it produced ‘perverse fantasies’ that successfully communicated sexual excitement to other people. In the course of his investigation he observed and interviewed those involved in the making of pornographic films. He hypothesized that the ‘scenarios’ developed and performed by people in the porn industry were based on their own perverse fantasies and their frustrations, injuries and conflicts over sexuality and gender; and that the porn industry had developed a systematic method and accumulated a sophisticated body of knowledge about the production of sexual excitement. This paper explores Stoller's theses and shows how they fared in his investigation.

African Americans and the Crisis of Modernity

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 53-60
Author(s):  
Eric S. King
Keyword(s):  
African Americans ◽  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Black People ◽  
Black Family ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Economic Problems ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Crisis Of Modernity

This article examines Lorraine Hansberry’s play A Raisin in the Sun by exploring the conflict between a traditionally Southern, Afro-Christian, communitarian worldview and certain more destabilizing elements of the worldview of modernity. In addition to examining the socio-economic problems confronted by some African Americans in the play, this article investigates the worldviews by which these Black people frame their problems as well as the dynamics within the relationships of a Black family that lives at the intersection of racial, class, and gender inequality in Chicago during the latter 1950s.

Scheduled Castes: Social And Gender Inequality

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-362
Author(s):  
M.S. Shinde M.S. Shinde ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Scheduled Castes ◽  
And Gender
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