Social responsibility portfolio optimization incorporating ESG criteria

Social responsibility investment(SRI)has attracted worldwide attention for its potential in promoting investment sustainability and stability.We developed a three-step framework by incorporating environmental,social,and governance(ESG)performance into portfolio optimization.In comparison to studies using weighted ESG rating scores,we constructed a data envelopment analysis(DEA)model with quadratic and cubic terms to enhance the evidence of two or more aspects,as well as the interaction between the environmental,social,and governance attributes.We then combined the ESG scores with financial indicators to select assets based on a cross-efficiency analysis.The portfolio optimization model incorporating ESG scores with selected assets was constructed to obtain a social responsibility investment strategy.To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach,we applied it in the United States industrial stock market from 2005 to 2017.The empirical results show that the obtained SRI portfolio may be superior to traditional investment strategies in many aspects and may simultaneously achieve the consistency of investment and social values.

Application of Integrated Multiple Criteria Data Envelopment Analysis to Humanitarian Logistics Network Design

This paper considers a humanitarian logistics network(HTLN)design problem,including the emergency relief facilities(ERFs)location-allocation decision for the efficient distribution of emergency supplies from the ERFs to the affected areas.A goal programming(GP)approach is applied to consider the multiple objectives simultaneously.Solving the GP model with a given weight assigned to each goal yields a single HTLN scheme,so there will be various schemes available by solving the GP with multiple values of the weights.For evaluating these schemes and identifying the most efficient one,we apply the data envelopment analysis(DEA)methods considering each scheme as a decision-making unit(DMU).Since the classical DEA(C-DEA)intrinsically aims to identify efficient DMUs and the efficient frontier,the use of C-DEA may not lead to a full ranking in many situations.There are several independent evaluation approaches to increasing discriminating power.Among them,this study integrates the multiple criteria DEA(MC-DEA)with the following three DEA methods,(i)stratification DEA(S^DEA),(ii)cross-efficiency DEA(CE-DEA),and(iii)super-efficiency DEA(SE-DEA),to make the most use of each method's strengths.Through a case study of designing the HTLN system for South Carolina,the procedure of implementing the integrated multiple criteria DEA(IMC-DEA)method is demonstrated.It is observed that the IMCDEA method performs well in terms of designing the HTLN system and would help the decision-makers consider more efficient options and make a final decision.

Efficient Photogeneration of Hydrogen Boosted by Long-Lived Dye-Modified Ir(III)Photosensitizers and Polyoxometalate Catalyst

Developing efficient catalysts and photosensitizers is crucial for the construction of effective photocatalytic H2-evolving systems.Here,we report the facile preparation of Coumarin-modified Ir(III)complexes(PS-2 and PS-3)and their utilization as chromophores to drive favorable photocatalytic H2 evolution using Ni-substituted polyoxometalate(Ni_(3)PW_(10))catalyst and triethanolamine(TEOA)as an electron donor.Compared with the commercially available unmodified Ir(III)complex(PS-1),both PS-2 and PS-3 displayed intensive absorption in the range of 400–550 nm with ε_(max) of 110,620 and 91,430 M^(−1) cm6(−1),respectively.Varying the substitutes on the bipyridine ligand affected their physicochemical properties and the corresponding photocatalytic activity dramatically.Under photocatalytic conditions,the quantity of H2 molecules generated by PS-2-and PS-3-containing systems were 13.1 and 2.1 times,respectively,that of the PS-1-containing system.When PS-2 was used as a photosensitizer,the highest turnover number(TON)of 19,739 was obtained versus Ni_(3)PW_(10) catalyst.Various spectroscopic and computational studies have revealed that factors such as strong and broad visible-light-absorbing ability,long-lived triplet state,suitable redox potential,opposed by using polyoxometalate(POM)catalyst,and large highest occupied molecular orbital(HOMO)–lowest unoccupied molecular orbital(LUMO)gap of PS-2 attributed to drastically enhanced photocatalytic activity.