Key Takeaways
- Economic inequality remains an important investor concern: 81 percent of retail investors agree that economic inequality is one of the biggest risks their investments face, and this remains practically unchanged from 2020.
- The belief that responsible investments deliver higher returns has strengthened, not faded: Agreement that the more socially and environmentally responsible an investment is, the higher the returns are, has increased from 70 percent in 2021 to 77 percent in 2025, driven primarily by a jump in strong agreement. This shift shows that the performance case for responsibility continues to resonate with shareholders despite political headwinds around ESG.
- Climate change as a perceived investment risk remains solid: 73 percent of retail investors agree, and this is very similar to 2020.
As the language of responsible investing continues to shift, GlobeScan data from surveying more than 8,000 retail investors across 23 markets tracked over time reveal that the underlying convictions driving responsible investment have intensified or remained unchanged, even as the vocabulary around them evolves.
The view that economic inequality poses one of the biggest risks to investors holds at just over 80 percent agreement in 2025, almost exactly matching the 2020 figure, while climate change as a perceived investment risk also holds steady compared to five years ago. The belief that more responsible investments deliver higher returns, meanwhile, shows the clearest upward movement, as total agreement climbed seven points from 70 percent in 2021 to 77 percent in 2025, with strong agreement jumping seven points from 25 to 32 percent.
This strengthening occurred during a period in which anti-ESG rhetoric intensified in several major markets, suggesting that the financial case for responsibility is becoming more, not less, persuasive for shareholders. Taken together, the stability of all three measures points to a durable set of beliefs that now function as a baseline lens through which shareholders assess risk, opportunity, and long-term performance.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
The resilience of these views suggests that inequality, climate risk, and the performance case for responsibility are now permanent features of how many retail investors think about their portfolios, with this financial logic becoming increasingly persuasive. For companies, the durability of these shareholder views means that addressing inequality, climate risk, and demonstrating the link between responsibility and performance is no longer optional positioning and is instead a baseline expectation of shareholders. Brands and businesses that credibly connect their social and environmental practices to long-term resilience and value creation will likely be better positioned to sustain investor confidence.
This analysis is based on a representative online survey of 8,435 consumers who own shares directly or indirectly across 23 markets, surveyed in July and August 2025 and tracked over time. It draws upon GlobeScan’s extensive global public opinion research which spans more than two decades of insights.
Survey Question: Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree, or strongly disagree with each of the following statements.
Countries surveyed: Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Türkiye, UK, USA, and Vietnam.
