Mohr, and Webb 45)
The change includes increased consumer awareness of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) of a company to companies seeking to make such commitments to CSR marketable to the public. Companies are taking note that their CSR behaviors are important to investors in both mutual and individual investment funds, not to mention direct sales of products manufactured by the company.
This change is a significant one, and is growing in popularity, expanding to include the development of brokers an firms who specialize in different types of socially responsible business investment. Those who have a particular interest in social issues, such as fair employment or local manufacturing and employment can seek out such a broker. While those who are more about environmental issues can seek out a broker who specializes in finding companies that work within the goals of developing sustainable environmental business practices, energy efficiency, the use of alternative energy sources, green logistics or even those who seek zero waste plants and productivity. In addition to firms and/or brokers specializing in such involvements there is also a growing development of investment funds that seek social responsible status by varied terms.
Some SRI funds try to avoid corporate polluters, among other environmental offenders, while some seek companies that practice diversity. Religious funds might include some of the above-mentioned screens in addition...
Some funds explicitly operate in accordance with Islamic principles.
Korn 54)
An individual can seek to buy within investment funds that stress the importance of certain faith or personal standards much more easily and can still make long-term profits on such investments.
There is early evidence that such demands on the part of the investor, once assumed to be uncaring about anything but profit
Harrington 52) are changing the manner in which businesses do business and market their business practices to consumers and potential investors.
Mohr, and Webb 45) Though this change may not be an overnight one, and there are clearly still investors who care more about earning potential than any other issues the change has made businesses following long held standards regarding CSR make the world more aware of these standards as well as has demanded change from those who have not been following CSR standards. Diversification of investment information is the overall change to the securities market, as much more information about a company is offered to the consumer than has been previously with regard to standards and procedures. Some believe there is a shift toward more consumer responsibility while others are content to allow such burden to revert back to firms and brokers.
Korn 54)
