The Attitude Behind the Decisions: Sustainability within Asset Management

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate how mutual fund managers view sustainability and what factors affect that view. By compiling a new dataset consisting of responses from 33 asset managers, the attitude toward sustainability was found to be affected by nine variables: Work history, Employees, Sustainability rating, Type of investors, The common people's opinion, Female employees, Internationality, Competitors' stance and Pressure from competitors. A larger share of the asset managers believed that their fund avoids negative publicity, rather than gains positive publicity, by incorporating sustainability into its operations. Furthermore, it was most common to use a positive or negative screening strategy to work sustainably, even though the asset managers themselves believed Engagement to have the largest potential impact.