Appetite for social bonds grows as investors turn to ‘S’ in ESG

Nearly two-thirds of investors (65%) expressed an active interest in allocating to the category,  with 29% saying they are already invested and 36% saying they are interested in investing. Potential social impact and a commitment to sustainability are the biggest motivators for investing in social bonds according to the social bonds survey, Investing in Inclusive Growth by Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Less than 12% of respondents had no preferred social theme for social bond investing, indicating that investors come to the asset class with a clear impact agenda. A perceived shortage of products offering exposure to the market topped the list of investors’ concerns about market access.

Entering the Fixed Income Mainstream 

Once seen as a niche area of fixed income, social bonds are entering the investing mainstream, driven in part by the COVID-19 outbreak when governments around the world ramped up issuance to finance programs designed to protect public health and mitigate damage to their economies. A total of 50 social bonds were issued in 2019 (pre-pandemic); a year later that number had more than quadrupled to 227.  

Building on the foundation laid by green bonds, social bonds had grown into a €464 billion market by the end of 2022. This rapid expansion has been made possible by the strength of investor demand for social bonds, especially in Europe. Nearly two-thirds of investors (65%) surveyed currently allocate to social bonds or are interested in doing so. In terms of currencies, euro-denominated securities are by far the largest part of the market, reflecting active issuance by the European Union and key member states.

Biggest Drivers for Investment 

The survey finds potential social impact and a commitment to sustainability are the biggest motivators for investing in social bonds. Asked which target population they would seek to benefit through social bond investing, nearly 57% of respondents chose people underserved owing to a lack of quality access to essential goods and services. 

Among the social themes that can be advanced through social bond investing, the most popular in our survey was access to affordable basic infrastructure, such as clean water, followed by food security and sustainable food systems. By comparison, less than 12% of respondents had no preferred social theme,  indicating investors in the asset class have a clear impact agenda.

Opportunities in an Expanding Market 

A perceived shortage of products offering exposure to the social bond market tops the list of impediments our respondents see to investing in the market, followed by concerns about the level of market diversification. As the social bond market continues to develop, we expect such obstacles to diminish.

The survey incorporates the views of more than 700 investment professionals across 11 key European markets. The respondents include chief executive officers, heads of ESG investing, and portfolio managers from investors such as insurers, pension funds, banks, charitable foundations, and family offices.