"57% of Global Investors Can Shift to Sustainable Portfolios Post-COVID"

‘Schroder Global Investor Study 2021’ Second Survey Results

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] Schroder Investment Management announced on the 19th that the results of the second survey of the 'Schroders Global Investor Study 2021,' conducted with investors worldwide, showed that investors' interest in sustainable investing has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the survey results, 57% of all respondents and 47% of domestic investors responded positively to switching their investment portfolios to sustainable themes, assuming the same level of risk and diversification after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among investors who responded favorably to sustainable investing, 74% believed it could have a positive impact on solving environmental and social issues, followed by 43% who were confident in higher profitability.

Investors rated environmental issues as more important compared to before the pandemic. 55% of all respondents and 54% of domestic respondents answered that environmental issues have become more important than before the COVID-19 outbreak. By continent, the Asia region (65%) showed the highest importance, while Europe (50%) was the lowest. Additionally, the more investment expertise investors had, the more sensitively they responded to environmental issues. Among expert-level investor groups, 62% considered environmental issues very important, whereas only 46% of beginner-level investor groups responded that environmental issues were important.

Social issues were also perceived as more important than before the COVID-19 outbreak. 57% of all respondents and 54% of domestic respondents answered that social issues have become more important than before the pandemic. Particularly, younger age groups showed greater interest in social issues. In response to whether the importance of social issues has increased compared to before COVID-19, 61% of the younger age group (18 years and older but under 37) answered "yes," while only 52% of the older age group (71 years and older) responded affirmatively.

A representative from Schroder Investment Management stated, "The various environmental and social issues triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic seem to have caused a shift in investors' investment values toward adding value to positively changing the world beyond profit generation. As investors' interest in sustainable investing grows, Schroders will respond quickly to changes and do its best to create long-term and stable returns for investors through thorough investment portfolio management."