ABSTRACT

In the 400 years since the creation of the corporate entity, people of have consistently spoken out about the social impact of capital. Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders have long recognized practices to encourage ethical investments while identifying investments to avoid. During colonial times in North America, both the Quakers and Methodists explicitly avoided investments that supported the slave trade. Muslims have had strict prohibitions against interest-bearing investments. Likewise, Judaism and Catholic teachings are clear on the responsibility to attend to the needs of the poor.