Overview
Why do people invest? Are investments value-neutral? Can investors do good in addition to doing well? What is socially responsible investing and what makes an investment socially responsible? Is socially responsible investing just a marketing ploy? This video takes a look at the claims and realities of socially responsible investment funds.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Other, Business, and Personal Finance
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• define and use the terms “socially responsible investing.”;
• discuss the intentions and consequences of investing in socially responsible funds;
• argue their belief that these funds do or do not have a more positive impact on the world than traditional investment funds; and
• evaluate the tradeoffs involved with paying higher fees to feel socially responsible.

Key concepts and terms covered
Indigenous People, Socially Responsible Investing, Sustainability Factors, Passive Investors, Impact Investing, and Fracking.

Sample discussion questions
• Does marketing play a role in the decisions you make? How so? What are some examples?
• What about electric cars? Are they better for the environment? How do you know? What role did marketing play in you thinking that?
• Do you think there are social pressures for companies to change their business practices, publicize their social initiatives, or even stretch the truth? Why?
• Many socially responsible funds would not invest in the Keystone oil pipeline. Why not? What did John Stossel say is the alternative to pipelines? Is one option worse than the other? What are the risks to each?
• Some people say it is better to have socially responsible funds for people to invest in than to advocate more government regulations. Why? What are the benefits and drawbacks of each?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 8-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.