Researchers Jorgo Goossens and Stefan Zeisberger received the Netspar Theme Grant of €350,000 for their research on “Understanding, measuring, and applying sustainability preferences”. The grant enables the researchers to conduct crucial ESG (i.e. Environmental, Social, and Governance) research over the coming three years. The grant is in collaboration with international researchers Julian Kölbel from the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) and Katja Hanewald from the University of New South Wales (Australia).
In particular, European legislation on pensions prescribes that investors' ESG preferences must be considered in investment decisions. However, despite the importance of this field, it is not well understood what the drivers are of ESG preferences, how they could be measured (in combination with risk and time preferences), and what this implies for investment decisions. This research aims to fill these gaps.