“Socially responsible” investing (SRI), which incorporates nonfinancial social and ethical criteria, has attracted significant publicity in recent years and sparked interest among some institutional investors, public pension funds, and Social Security reform advocates, particularly in the wake of recent corporate scandals. SRI adherents claim that one of every ten dollars...

A new book edited by Jon Entine considers the dangers of investing to promote social or political causes.

Social investing, by both the political left and right, frequently ends up hurting the very people--particularly the economically disadvantaged--that it is supposed to help.

Is it wise for portfolio managers and individual investors to choose socially responsible investing?

Pension officials cannot follow socially progressive principles to do good and still make a killing in the stock market.

Do as we say, not as we do, would be an appropriate slogan for the unions.

The use of social criteria may be fine for affluent investorswho assume the extra risk to achieve their perceived political goals and the Gates Foundation has set a higher standard.

If you think Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were a politicized financial disaster, just wait until pension funds implode.