Library | ESG issues

Social

The social pillar in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) assesses a organisation’s impact on people and society. It covers labour practices, diversity and inclusion, human rights and community engagement. Prioritising social responsibility not only benefits society but also mitigates risks, strengthens reputation, and creates long-term value for businesses and investors.

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Finance / Corporate Focused NGOs & Think Tanks
National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) is a US-based nonpartisan economic research organisation producing working papers, conferences, datasets and publications on macroeconomics, labour markets, health economics and public policy. It supports scholars and policymakers with in-depth empirical research.
Organisation
1 research item

Corporate governance and equity prices

Harvard Business School
This report examines the link between shareholder rights and corporate performance in the 1990s. Using a Governance Index across 1,500 firms, it finds that stronger shareholder rights were associated with higher valuations, profits, and growth, while weaker rights correlated with lower performance and abnormal underperformance.
Research
12 September 2001

Enel: Industry case studies: Electric utility

United Nations Global Compact
This report presents Enel’s case study on implementing CFO Principles for the SDGs. It outlines historical drivers, sustainability disruption, strategic responses, and SDG investments, highlighting decarbonisation, electrification, and financial performance assessment. The report details Enel’s renewable energy expansion, SDG alignment, and integration of sustainability outcomes with financial results.
Research
20 September 2021

Presidential address: Sustainable finance and ESG issues: Value versus values

This report examines how investor and manager motivations—driven by either financial value or personal values—shape sustainable finance and ESG practices. It highlights definitional ambiguities, performance debates, and cultural differences, calling for clearer research to distinguish pecuniary risk-return considerations from non-pecuniary preferences in ESG investing.
Research
4 August 2023

Sustainable investing in practice: Objectives, beliefs, and limits to impact

European Corporate Governance Institute (ECGI)
This paper surveys 509 equity portfolio managers on their treatment of environmental and social factors. Findings show most prioritise financial returns, with limited willingness to sacrifice performance. ES constraints from mandates, policies, and client values strongly influence decisions. Beliefs and constraints outweigh fund labels in shaping sustainable investing practices.
Research
12 August 2025

Tobacco tactics

Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG)
Tobacco Tactics is a knowledge-exchange platform from the University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group. It compiles rigorous academic research and monitoring on the global tobacco industry—its products, influences, themes and companies—in an accessible format.
Online tool/database

Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG)

Academic Institutions
Tobacco Control Research Group (TCRG) at the University of Bath conducts international, multidisciplinary research into the tobacco industry’s influence on health and policy. TCRG generates evidence to support effective tobacco control, informs public health policy, and provides training on industry monitoring and accountability to advance global health outcomes.
Organisation
2 research items

The just transition: How two investors are tackling its social implications

Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI)
This report by PRI outlines how Fonds de Solidarité FTQ and Ircantec integrate just transition principles into investment strategies. It highlights measures to support decarbonisation, quality jobs, community engagement, sustainable real estate, and shareholder dialogue, linking social considerations with environmental goals in advancing a low-carbon economy.
Research
4 March 2020

Target-setting protocol fourth edition

United Nations Environment Programme
The report outlines the fourth edition of the Science Based Targets initiative’s target-setting protocol. It provides updated guidance, criteria, and methodology for companies to set near-term science-based greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, aligning with 1.5°C pathways and incorporating broader coverage across sectors, geographies, and organisational boundaries.
Research
16 April 2024

The end of ESG: Financial management, forthcoming

This report argues that ESG is both essential and ordinary: vital as a driver of long-term value but not unique compared to other intangibles such as culture or innovation. It cautions against over-emphasising ESG metrics, politicisation, and superficial classification, advocating instead a broader focus on overall sustainable value creation.
Research
4 January 2023

One hundred and thirty years of corporate responsibility

This report develops a 130-year index (ESIX) measuring public attention to environmental and social issues in business using historical news data. Findings show that such attention rises during instability (social) or prosperity (environmental), depresses short-term investment efficiency, but improves investment outcomes over longer horizons.
Research
24 July 2024

City development limited: Industry case studies: Real estate

DBS Bank
City Developments Limited outlines its sustainability strategy, focusing on climate resilience, stakeholder engagement, and SDG-aligned investments. The report details historical drivers, innovation in green building, ESG integration, and financial performance, highlighting case studies on technology adoption and partnerships to advance low-carbon operations and responsible real estate growth.
Research
20 September 2021

DBS Bank

Commercial Research Providers
DBS Bank India is a digital-led universal bank offering personal, SME, corporate and wealth management services. Features include resident and non-resident (NRI) savings and fixed deposit accounts, remittance, loans, digital payments and credit/debit card solutions. Positions as Asia’s safest bank with a wide India branch network.
Organisation
1 research item

ShareAction's point of no return series

ShareAction
The Point of No Returns benchmark series assesses the world’s largest asset managers on responsible investment across climate, biodiversity, social issues, governance, and stewardship. Published by ShareAction, the series provides rankings, sector-wide analysis, and examples of practice to guide improvement and accountability.
Benchmark/series

Evidencing financial materiality of sovereign ESG risk

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)
This report analyses the relationship between sovereign ESG risks and credit risk across 70 countries. Using FTSE Russell/Beyond Ratings data and five-year CDS spreads, it finds stronger financial materiality of ESG risks in emerging and high-yield markets, particularly for social and governance factors, with weaker results for environmental risks.
Research
11 October 2023

London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)

Commercial Research Providers
LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group) is a global financial markets infrastructure and data provider. It delivers market-data, analytics, news and index products to over 44,000 customers in more than 170 countries. LSEG’s services cover capital markets, post-trade operations, risk management and information services.
Organisation
1 research item
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