Editorials
Advisor: KNOW Your Client. KNOW their values!
By Ron Robins This editorial is of particular interest to investment and financial advisors. A U.S. survey by Allianz Global Investors early in 2008 showed that half of all investors were planning to invest in environmental funds in the following twelve months; in May a U.K. survey by F&C Investments found about 88% of respondents…
LOHAS — Opportunities for Ethical Investors
By Ron Robins Investors who read this website are probably “Cultural Creatives” and “LOHAS” consumers. So this likely means you as well. Let me explain these terms and how they relate to your investments. Cultural Creatives, becoming a major force, are also LOHAS consumersIn a previous editorial, I wrote about Cultural Creatives (CCs), and how they and their values…
Everyone becoming a Cultural Creative
By Ron Robins For many years I have envisioned the possible psychological archetype of the rapidly growing numbers of individuals engaging in socially responsible, ethical investing. After much thought and research, I believe they are likely to resemble what sociologist Paul Ray calls the “Cultural Creative.” He coined the term back in the 1990s after…
Retiring the GDP (Gross Domestic Product)
By Ron Robins The GDP statistic has to be retired. It is like an old shoe that no longer fits. GDP is fatally flawed as a measure of economic and societal well-being and economists know it. Yet it is universally used to compare living standards and economic growth like one compares sports scores. Furthermore, as…
Unethical Statistics — the US consumer price index
By Ron Robins This editorial is part of a series Mr. Robins* is writing on the ethics, and sometimes extraordinary biases he believes he has found behind the design and presentation of many government statistics. His view is that investors need to know much more about what is in these statistics in order to optimize…
Unethical US Job Numbers?
By Ron Robins This editorial is part of a series Mr. Robins* is writing on the ethics, and sometimes extraordinary biases he believes he has found behind the design and presentation of many government statistics. His view is that investors need to know much more about what is in these statistics in order to optimize their returns. His research reveals many…
