This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

Daniel Merritt, a Creative Investment Research intern and American University Washington Semester student found "a community at the Kogod School of Business, gaining valuable experience through internships, coursework, and research on sustainable business practices." Read more about his experience at  https://kogod.american.edu/news/navigating-an-action-packed-semester-in-dc As we noted, "in a pioneering move that merges environmental sustainability with financial analysis, Creative Investment Research Analyst Daniel Merritt has introduced a revolutionary set of metrics aimed at redefining equity analysis."  Read more about his groundbreaking work at  https://www.prlog.org/13015813-creative-investment-research-unveils-groundbreaking-climate-financial-metrics.html

On June 27, 2024, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released the third estimate for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for Q1 2024, alongside revised estimates for corporate profits and the GDP by industry. On June 28, 2024, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) index reported a year-over-year increase of 2.6% in May 2024. These indicators provide critical insights into the overall economic health and have significant implications for minority-owned businesses. GDP Growth and Minority Firms The third estimate for GDP in Q1 2024 indicates a growth rate of 1.4%. This positive growth is a good sign, suggesting that the economy is slowly expanding. For minority-owned businesses, the increase in GDP can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, higher economic growth can lead to greater availability of credit and investment opportunities, which are vital for the sustainability of minority enterprises. On the other hand, if the benefits of this growth is not equitably distributed , minority-...

On Wednesday, June 26, 2024, I had the honor to attend a screening of the documentary, “Every Last Mile: The Untold Story of Connecting Rural America,” hosted by the Washington Post. The documentary showcases the recent legislative push to connect rural communities to high-speed internet access. The event also featured a Q&A session after the screening with Rural Utilities Service Administrator Andrew Berke and Virginia’s broadband office director Tamarah Holmes. The documentary focused on three crews working to connect communities in King Cove, Alaska, Lakewood Township, Minnesota, and Congress, Arizona. Be it the freezing temperatures of Alaska, the rocky soil of Minnesota, or the debilitating heat of the Arizona desert, the documentary showcased the environmental challenges these crews must overcome. Moreover, some of the most grueling projects will only be connecting very small communities, a result that doesn’t match the herculean effort required to obtain it. Existing utiliti...

  William Michael Cunningham, Creative Investment Research and  Thaddaeus Dawson, Founder,  10K Minority  Appraisers Foundation The 10K Minority Appraisers Foundation (10KMA) has achieved impressive success, yet its mission to foster an equitable, modern appraisal industry is just beginning. The Department of Labor’s recent certification of the 10KMA national appraiser apprenticeship program marks a pivotal milestone in this journey. On Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at the Westin Hotel in Crystal City, VA, I had the privilege of attending a reception to celebrate this historic, first-ever certification. The excitement was palpable, as this signing represents a significant stride in fostering and empowering the next generation of appraisers, harnessing their distinctive perspectives and skills to enhance appraisal outcomes. Speeches from Foundation members and supporters, including CEO and founder Thaddaeus Dawson, emphasized the importance of diversity and the need to updat...

Banks have a major role to play in supporting minority-owned businesses BankThink. American Bankers Newspaper. By William Michael Cunningham June 25, 2024, 10:00 a.m. EDT   The United States' economy is distinctly divided into two economies: the minority economy and the majority economy. This division is supported by empirical evidence highlighting significant economic disparities between minority groups and their white counterparts, particularly during economic downturns.   Minority populations, including Black, Hispanic and Native American communities, consistently face higher unemployment rates , lower income levels, and reduced access to capital . These disparities are further exacerbated during economic recessions. The Federal Reserve indicates that Hispanics, Blacks, Native Americans and other disadvantaged groups experience greater-than average unemployment rates over the economic cycle. For instance, during recessions, the unemployment rate for Black and Hispanic ind...

I recently attended a screening of the documentary Join or Die , and a Q&A session with the directors of the film, Pete and Rebecca Davis. US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy and Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) also participated in the Q&A. Join or Die explores the work of political scientist Robert Putnam and the relationship between economic prosperity and social capital. Putnam studied at Swarthmore, Oxford, Yale, and has had a successful career as a Harvard professor. He first observed the social capital phenomenon while studying regional governments in Italy, trying to explain why some worked and why some didn’t. Putnam noticed that flourishing governments always had high levels of social connection and community engagement, evident in a large number of local clubs, organizations, etc. that spanned the local community. He found that “civic engagement” was a better predictor of a successful government  than education, wealth, or any other factor.  Upon his return, Put...

Eric Gordon, left and Luke Newton, Right, at t he Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy at Brookings, June 14, 2024.  As the Federal Reserve prepares for its five-year public review of the monetary policy framework, ongoing debates persist among experts regarding the most effective strategies to achieve economic stability and growth without exacerbating inequality. The Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy at Brookings recently convened a conference enabling economists to articulate and discuss their recommendations for the Fed's review, including a dialogue on the merits of adopting a symmetric, balanced approach versus an asymmetric, shortfalls-focused one amid rapidly evolving economic conditions. Each strategy carries different implications across the country's financial landscape, yet their impact on minority communities is particularly crucial, serving as a barometer of broader economic health and welfare. This post aims to analyze the competing approa...

  The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) was basically unchanged in May, 2024 on a seasonally adjusted basis, after rising 0.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported . Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 3.3 percent before seasonal adjustment. hashtag # inflation hashtag # cpi hashtag # prices

  Today, we celebrate the beauty and importance of our oceans. From vibrant coral reefs to majestic sea turtles, our oceans are home to an incredible diversity of life. 🌿🐠🐢 We are focused on protecting and preserving these vital ecosystems. See: https://www.impactinvesting.online/2021/06/the-blue-economy-alice-gabidoulline.html and https://www.impactinvesting.online/2023/01/ocean-rescue-alliance-innovation-in.html   Let's come together to make a positive impact. Every action counts towards a healthier ocean. 

  The graphic above shows unemployment rates across different racial and ethnic groups from April 2023 to May 2024. The picture reviews unemployment rates for White, Black, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino populations. The data indicates fluctuations in unemployment rates between and among these groups, with disparities that warrant further examination. Trends and Observations 1. White Population:    - The unemployment rate for Whites has shown minor fluctuations, generally staying between 3.10% and 3.50%.    - The lowest recorded rate was in April 2023 (3.10%), and the highest was observed in October and December 2023, and May 2024 (3.50%). 2. Black Population:    -  Blacks experienced the highest volatility in unemployment rates.    - The rate increased from 4.80% in April 2023 to a peak of 6.40% in March 2024, before slightly decreasing to 6.09% in May 2024.    - This group consistently shows higher unemployment rates compared ...