A framework for managing a portfolio of socially responsible investments

In this paper we present and illustrate using real-life data a framework for managing an investment portfolio in which the investment opportunities are described in terms of a set of attributes and part of this set is intended to capture the effects on society. Here we link with the emerging literature on SRI: socially responsible investment. Given the multi-attribute descriptions of the individual investment opportunities we show how these can be combined into portfolios with the same attributes at the portfolio level. Also we show how a manager can systematically be supported in the choice between different portfolio profiles. As part of the framework we use multi-criteria decision tools. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.