Understanding financial intermediaries’ hesitation about socially responsible investing

Despite a strong demand for Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and scientific evidence that responsible investing can outperform conventional investments, financial intermediaries are hesitant about SRI. Through an institutional logics lens, this research inductively investigates what hinders the adoption of SRI within intermediaries. Based on interviews with representatives from Swiss banks and insurance firms, the comparative study shows that while short-term orientation tends to complicate SRI, long-termism generally furthers SRI. The findings contribute to the SRI and the institutional logics literature: First, time helps to understand differences in SRI adoption and gives new insights into the feasibility of SRI. Second, the research explains how time shapes the conflict between different institutional logics within organizations.