The Evolution of Sustainable Investments and Finance

Francesco Gangi is Full Professor of Management in the Department of Economics at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy.  Research interests focus on corporate social responsibility, socially responsible investing and crowdfunding. 
Antonio Meles is Associate Professor of Finance at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli". Research interests focus on private equity and venture capital, bank-firm relationship and corporate governance.
Lucia Michela Daniele is a Research Fellow of Management in the Department of Economics at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy. Research interests focus on crowdfunding and corporate social responsibility. 
Nicola Varrone is a Research Fellow in the Department of Economics at the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy, and an ESG investment analyst at Banca Mediolanum s.p.a. Researchinterests focus on corporate social responsibility, socially responsible investing and sovereign wealth funds.  
Dario Salerno is a Research Fellow in the Department of Business and Quantitative Studies of University of Naples "Parthenope", Italy.  Research interests focus on financial institutions and markets, the bank-firm relationship, corporate social responsibility.
Over the last decade, socially responsible investments (SRIs) have become paramount to both professionals and academics. In the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-8, practitioners have become much more involved in new financial models that integrate returns and positive social and environmental impacts. The authors argue that previous irresponsible financial models are anachronistic, and propose a new relationship between stakeholder and shareholder. Starting from the mainstreaming of SRI, this book recovers the social function of banks and the innovative role of crowdfunding and venture capital models. The book offers a unified perspective for firm and funder, making it a timely and invaluable read for scholars and practitioners interested in sustainable development and social impact finance.