Rethinking Finance

This book explores the notion of Rethinking Finance, in the form of questioning previously established beliefs and models. In particular, it examines the current evolution of the European Asset Management industry as increasing institutional pressures push organizations to change their business models and integrate sustainability into their traditional investment practices. This is manifested in the phenomenon of Responsible Investment – any type of consideration of Environmental, Social, Governance and Controversial Business Involvement issues within the investment process. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches via interviews with top asset managers and statistical analyses of equity screening funds, this book illustrates how the re-conceptualization of previously well-established beliefs occurs within financial markets and becomes manifested within financial models through logic assimilation. The book targets both academics and practitioners interested in understanding how financial markets deal with sustainability practices from a sociological perspective.