Research reports
Research reports produced by affiliates of the House of Sustainable Society (formerly Misum) cover a wide range of topics, from environmental crises and climate transition to sustainable development and responsible business. Browse the research-based reports for policy and practice here.
Transgender inclusion in the workplace
Creating transgender inclusion as part of the broader diversity, equity and inclusion agenda is a growing priority in the business community. Despite this, many companies fail to offer safe workspaces where transgender persons can freely express who they are. This is particularly the case in countries of the Global South with lower gross domestic product per capita.
This research report discusses social and workplace challenges faced by the hijra ‘third gender’ community in Bangladesh. By looking at the challenges that hijras face today, the report offers insights into how employers can play a role in creating safe, inclusive work environments.
Author:
- Enrico Fontana, Misum and Cranfield School of Management
This report was written in collaboration with the Bandhu Social Welfare Society and is the result of ongoing research conducted with hijras in Bangladesh.
Financial flows of five leading banks in Sweden since the Paris Agreement
This report sheds light on the domestic and international financial flows from the largest lenders in Sweden and their alignment with the Paris Agreement. The results show the extent to which banks’ financial flows contribute to achieving climate goals consistent with Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement on climate change, or to delaying that achievement, with some limitations.
Authors:
- Lazslo Sajtos, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
- George Marbuah, Stockholm Environment Institute
- Aaron Maltais, Stockholm Environment Institute
Text originally from SEI, available here.
The role of private market capital in financing sustainable cities
Swedish municipalities have high ambitions for sustainability, but face challenges achieving the goals of Agenda 2030 and climate neutrality at their current rate and practices. Significant investments will be required to ensure this transition, and many actors see an increasing need for external financing for the municipalities in the future.
This report aims to give the financial sector and local and regional authorities a research-based understanding of the role of external funding to help municipalities achieve sustainability, climate neutrality and the goals in Agenda 2030 from a Swedish perspective. The report is developed as part of the Viable Cities project.
Authors:
- Nina Waltré, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
- Emma Sjöström, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
- Magnus Agerström, Cleantech Scandinavia
- Fedra Vanhuyse, Stockholm Environment Institute
- Alicia Requena Carrion, Cleantech Scandinavia
Integrating sustainability in investment analysis
Sustainability can directly influence the evaluation of companies’ financial health and forecasting of future earnings. Understanding how ESG issues can be integrated into financial analysis is not just a task for financial analysts, but also for portfolio managers and investor relations officers at listed companies.
In this report, Swesif and Misum researchers set out to explore the interaction between these three actor-groups to better understand the drivers and challenges for integrating ESG in financial analysis. The study is based on interviews with sell-side analysts, portfolio managers and investor relations officers in the Swedish market.
Watch the report launch recording here.
Authors:
- Emma Sjöström, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
- Rachelle Belinga, Misum and Drew University
Teaching sustainable finance: ways to integrate sustainability in finance education
The global growth of sustainable finance markets and jobs has triggered an increase in practitioner and student demand for sustainable finance education. Universities have now started updating their finance curricula to meet this increasing demand for ESG and sustainability content.
This report aims to capture how sustainable finance is being taught in universities. Its purpose is to identify crucial elements in building sustainable finance expertise and to support the further development of skills in the field. To this end, it develops two practical tools to help higher education institutions and teachers design strategies for integrating sustainability issues and course content.
Authors:
- Rachelle Belinga, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
- Mette Morsing, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
Value-creating partnerships for social inclusion
This report examines the role of the real estate sector in partnerships that promote social inclusion in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas in Sweden. It analyzes whether cross-sector partnerships can help create shared value for both the private and public sectors, while also contributing to a more prosperous society.
Based on qualitative case studies in two so-called “particularly vulnerable areas” in Sweden, the report explores how different forms of collaboration between companies, the public sector, and civil society work in practice. The focus is on the role of the real estate sector in cross-sector partnerships and whether it can benefit both business development and social development.
Author:
- Ingrid Stigzelius, Misum, Stockholm School of Economics
The bond market: Its relevance and functionality for the climate transition
The purpose of this report is to explain and highlight the importance and functionality of the bond market for investing that can have an impact on the climate transition. It presents ways for investors to use bond market mechanisms to include climate perspectives and to push the agenda in this area. It also suggests topics for further investigation in future research.
Authors:
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Emma Sjöström, Misum and Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre
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Ulf Erlandsson, Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute
Long-term perspectives in investment analysis
A general concern over undue short-termism in financial markets prompted this study. Set in Sweden, it explores the views on long-termism in investment analysis of buy-side analysts, sell-side analysts, and investor relations officers.
Highlighting discrepancies in long-term perspectives and the challenges of overcoming short-term focus, the report seeks to encourage a dialogue on fostering long-termism among financial professionals. The goal is to balance immediate gains with sustainable, long-term value creation.
Authors:
- Emma Sjöström, Misum and Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre
- Hanna Setterberg, Misum and Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre
- Gregor Vulturius, Stockholm Sustainable Finance Centre
