In the Media

Are environmental and social (ES) funds really voting in support of their claims? Each year, asset managers vote on various proposals from the companies in their investment portfolio on behalf of fund investors, who expect strong support for ES initiatives from these companies. However, in a recent research conducted by the author, Prof. Roni Michaely, along with Prof. Guillem Calafi-Ordonez, and Prof. Silvina Rubio, a surprising pattern has been identified. These ES funds often support proposals that are expected to pass or fail easily. However, when it comes to close votes—where their decision really matters—they tend to vote against these proposals.

The upcoming US presidential election is poised to be a historic one, with its outcome closely tied to economic performance. Recent events, including the Russia-Ukraine war, soaring inflation, and the US-China tech rivalry, have created a turbulent global landscape. Voters are primarily concerned with economic issues, employment, healthcare, and immigration.