Scientific Beta

Erik Christiansen, ESG and Climate Investment Specialist at Scientific Beta, will be speaking at the Trackinsight European Summit in Paris on 21 June, 2022 on the theme "Should ESG alpha really be positive? Assessing the five forces that drive ESG investment returns". The summit brings together expert leaders from investment and technology professionals to provide an exclusive forum for asset owners and investment leaders and features a wide range of topics that are united by a core theme: can ETF investors trust what they see and hear, and where are the hidden risks and opportunities in this complex information age? 

Erik Christiansen, ESG and Climate Investment Specialist at Scientific Beta, will be speaking at the Trackinsight European Summit in Paris on 21 June, 2022 on the topic "Should ESG alpha really be positive? Assessing the five forces that drive ESG investment returns". 

Asset managers frequently claim that investing in the stock market based on environmental, social and governance criteria (ESG investing) generates positive risk-adjusted returns, or alpha. However, the empirical literature has cast serious doubts on this hypothesis, as evidence is at best mixed. In recent research, Scientific Beta has reviewed the literature and identified five forces that determine the magnitude and the sign of alpha for ESG investing. This workshop will discuss the theory behind these mechanisms, and show that obtaining positive alpha from ESG investing appears to be a long shot.

Bringing together expert leaders from investment and technology professionals, the 2022 Trackinsight European Summit provides an exclusive forum for asset owners and investment leaders who need to make sense of the fast-changing information landscape to distinguish facts from falsehoods, opportunities from opinions and risk of missed investment decisions. A wide range of topics will be united by a core theme: can ETF investors trust what they see and hear, and where are the hidden risks and opportunities in this complex information age? Several industry-level experts and renowned finance professionals will share their views and findings on this hot-button issue with all ETF investors.

Prior to joining Scientific Beta, Erik Christiansen was previously Head of Investment Strategy with the Etablissement de Retraite Additionnelle de la Fonction Publique (ERAFP), the mandatory pension scheme for French civil servants, where he was responsible for implementing the equity and ESG strategies. He has also previously worked as a Methodology Coordinator and Analyst at Vigeo Eiris, the ESG rating agency. Erik holds a Master’s degree in Management from the ESCP Business School and is a CFA charterholder.

Attendance at the event is free of charge and by invitation only, limited to senior decision makers from asset owners, allocators and distributors. Admission is only valid when confirmed by the organisers.

For any additional information on the event, please contact tes@trackinsight.com.