Download This PaperLow-carbon Mutual Funds
Swiss Finance Institute Research Paper No. 19-13
European Corporate Governance Institute – Finance Working Paper No. 659/2020
64 Pages Posted: 19 Feb 2020 Last revised: 31 Mar 2020
There are 2 versions of this paper
Low-carbon Mutual Funds
Low-Carbon Mutual Funds
Date Written: February 7, 2020
Abstract
We show that mutual funds compete for climate-conscious investment flows. In April 2018, Morningstar introduced a climate-focused label for mutual funds. The release of the "Low Carbon Designation" induced reactions on both the demand and supply sides of the market. First, investors flocked to funds receiving this eco-label. Second, active funds that missed the label at its initial release responded to the new incentive by shifting their holdings towards more climate-friendly firms. In sum, climate-related information can trigger competition by financial intermediaries along their climate performance. However, the resulting portfolio shifts may also expose investors to higher idiosyncratic risks.
Keywords: Behavioral finance, climate change, eco-labels, investor preferences, mutual funds, sustainable finance
JEL Classification: D03, G02, G12, G23
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Swiss Finance Institute ( email )
c/o University of Geneva
40, Bd du Pont-d'Arve
CH-1211 Geneva 4
Switzerland
Here is the Coronavirus
related research on SSRN
