social responsibility

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Social Responsibility

The practice of appropriate behavior in a public setting, regardless of the behavior's legality. In investing, social responsibility helps inform the investment decisions of some individuals and companies. For example, an individual may have a moral objection to smoking and therefore may refrain from investing in tobacco companies. Social responsibility in investing may be either positive or negative; that is, it may inform where an individual makes investments (e.g. in environmentally friendly companies) and where he/she does not (e.g. in arms manufacturers). Some mutual funds and even whole subdivisions are dedicated to promoting socially responsible investing. See also: Green fund, Islamic finance.

social responsibility

a business philosophy that stresses the need for firms to behave as good corporate citizens, not merely obeying the law but furthering the interests of the STAKEHOLDERS - shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and the community Social responsibility is an alternative goal to PROFIT MAXIMIZATION for firms. See CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, FIRM OBJECTIVES.
References in periodicals archive ?
The economic crisis fueled the rise of the socially responsible economy, which aims to set up an alternative method of production.
So is socially responsible investing a solid strategy in its own right?
Eric Smith, a certified financial planner specializing in "green" money management, began dabbling in socially responsible investing (SRI) with his own Bar Mitzvah money more than two decades ago--and never looked back.
As a leading proponent of the 'green dollar,' Christian Brothers Investment Services is positively achieving environmental change through socially responsible investing" said NYLCV executive director Marcia Bystryn.
In the US, socially responsible investing continues to perform "competitively" and attract new assets, the forum says, despite the US market's sustained downturn over the past two years.
Charlotte Brody, head of Healthcare Without Harm, came with three colleagues, a Greenpeace activist and three institutional shareowners representing tens of thousands of Baxter shares held by socially responsible investors.
Some investors want to be associated with socially responsible corporations that are creating positive social change.
This points out some of the difficulty in socially responsible investing.
What actions can we take to make companies accountable to our community and how can we encourage more socially responsible firms?
Repositioning or creating a product that is more socially responsible often requires changes in advertising media appeals, product design, channels of distribution, and packaging.
Peddling politics as much as beauty, Body Shop founder Anita Roddick took the cosmetics industry by storm and forged a popular icon of socially responsible business.
The managers of socially responsible money market and mutual funds--Pax World, Parnassus, and Working Assets are just a few--review potential investments not only according to their likely return but also across a gamut of social-justice concerns.

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