[javanissen]

The Economist has published several critiques of ESG investing:

- ESG is overbroad and contradictory, and funds that select investments solely based on emissions criteria would serve investors better [0]

- ESG is ineffective because it is rife with greenwashing [1]

- ESG is fundamentally unable to accomplish meaningful progress on social goals because profit-seeking will always take precedence in corporations [2]

I don’t think every ESG-related piece they publish needs to include a lengthy disclaimer that the publication itself doesn’t love ESG, just as their critiques of ESG don’t need to include disclaimers about the downsides of boycotting firms that offer ESG products, as mentioned in the article:

> Taking a stand can be expensive. Researchers at the Federal Reserve and the University of Pennsylvania have found that anti-ESG boycotts raised the cost of borrowing for Texan municipalities by $300m-500m as banks with ESG policies withdrew from underwriting bond sales.

[0] https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/07/21/esg-should-be-b...

[1] https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/05/22/sustainable-fin...

[2] https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/09/29/the-fundamental...