Australian study claims CSR pays

Strong financial performance is linked in a new Australian report to good corporate responsibility. Research by AMP Capital Investors shows that over four-year and ten-year periods companies with a higher CSR rating outperformed others by more than three per cent. Companies highly ranked on industry sustainability also outperformed over ten years, though statistics were less precise.

Michael Anderson, head of the company’s sustainable funds, said: ‘The results of our research, combined with the strong performance of the AMP Sustainable Australian Share Fund, show investors are able to achieve great returns without compromising their values. Since its inception the fund has consistently outperformed the ASX200 Index.’