Contracts with (Social) Benefits: The Implementation of Impact Investing

Citation:

Christopher Geczy, Jessica Jeffers, David K. Musto, and Anne M. Tucker. 7/12/2020. “Contracts with (Social) Benefits: The Implementation of Impact Investing”. Publisher's Version

Abstract:

We draw on new data and theory to examine how private market contracts adapt to serve multiple goals, particularly the social-benefit goals that impact funds add to their financial goals. Counter to the intuition from multitasking models (Holmstrom and Milgrom, 1991), few impact funds tie compensation directly to impact, and most retain traditional financial incentives. However, funds contract directly on impact in other ways and adjust aspects of the contracts like governance. In the cross-section of impact funds, those with higher profit goals contract more tightly around both goals.

 

Keywords: impact investing, venture capital, private equity, socially responsible investment, sustainable investing, corporate social responsibility, contracts

Last updated on 02/24/2021