This Week in ESG and Impact Investing

  도널드 트럼프가  2024 년 미국 대통령 선거에서 재선에 성공하며 ,  이민자 커뮤니티는 충격과 불안 속에 휩싸였습니다 .  트럼프의 재선 공약과 초기 행보는 그의 첫 임기 때처럼 반이민 정책을 강화하고 이민자들의 권리를 제한하려는 방향으로 나아갈 가능성을 시사했습니다 .  대규모 이민자 추방 ,  노동 비자 할당량 축소 ,  국경 장벽 확대와 같은 정책은 이민자들이 직면한 차별과 소외를 더욱 심화시켜 기본권을 약화시키고 점점 더 적대적인 환경을 조성할 위협이 있습니다 .  이런 상황에서 ,  저는 서울대학교 국제이주와포용사회센터 (CTMS) 가 주최한  " 의사소통은 이주민의 기본권 "  세미나에 참가하게 되었습니다 .  트럼프의 재선으로 인해 이민자 권리가 국제적 논의의 중심에 떠오른 가운데 ,  이 세미나는 이민자의 기본권 보장 ,  특히 의사소통의 중요성을 중심으로 한국과 세계가 배울 수 있는 시사점을 제공하는 의미 있는 자리라고 느껴졌습니다 .  특히 ,  이주민의 기본권을 확보하는 데 있어 의사소통의 중요성을 깊이 이해할 수 있는 자리였습니다 .  2025 년 기준으로 ,  만약 미국에서 순이민이 대폭 감소했다면 , GDP  성장률이  0.2%  포인트 감소했을 것으로 추산되며 ,  이는 약  130 억 달러에 해당하는 손실입니다 .  또한 ,  노동력 부족은 농업 ,  건설 ,  가사 서비스와 같은 주요 산업에서 비용 상승을 초래해 인플레이션 압력을 가중시켰습니다 .  반면 ,  이민자 증가 정책을 시행했을 경우 ,  같은 해  GDP  성장이 최대  0.5%  포인트 더 높아졌을 가능성이 있습니다 . 이러한 이점에도 불구하고 ,  미국...

The re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States in the 2024 election sent shockwaves through immigrant communities, sparking widespread anxiety and uncertainty. Trump's campaign promises and early policy signals suggest a return to—and potential intensification of—the anti-immigrant measures seen during his first term. Policies such as large-scale deportations, reduced labor visa quotas, and the expansion of the border wall threaten to deepen the discrimination and marginalization immigrants already face, undermining their fundamental rights and creating an increasingly hostile environment. Against this backdrop, I had the opportunity to attend the seminar "Communication as a Basic Human Right for Migrants," organized by the Center for Transnational Migration and Social Inclusion (CTMS) at Seoul National University. With Trump's re-election placing immigrant rights at the forefront of global discussions, this seminar served as a timely platform to ...

Former President Donald Trump’s economic policies, particularly his approaches to banking and financial services, have reignited speculation about their potential impact on minority businesses and consumers. As his political presence grows, understanding the implications of Trump-aligned policies becomes essential for those navigating this complex economic landscape. A defining feature of Trump’s economic policy approach has been financial deregulation. By reducing compliance requirements on financial institutions, deregulation is intended to stimulate lending and expand access to capital. However, this approach often disproportionately benefits large financial institutions while sidelining smaller community banks and credit unions, which are crucial to minority businesses. While proponents of deregulation argue that fewer regulations mean increased credit availability for minority-owned businesses, this outcome is far from guaranteed. The underlying anti-diversity, equity, and inclusi...

Trump’s New Economic Policies Could Have A Detrimental Impact On Black Businesses, Yet Some Opportunities May Exist. The article presents a critical analysis of the potential impact of Donald Trump’s proposed economic policies on Black-owned businesses. While acknowledging limited opportunities, the overall assessment suggests that the negative consequences will outweigh the positives. The analysis underscores that while some isolated opportunities may arise from Trump’s policies, the overall damage to Black businesses could surpass the setbacks experienced during his first term. The compounding effects of higher operational costs, reduced social safety nets, and macroeconomic uncertainty could stifle growth, increase business failures, and deepen racial economic disparities. While there are narrow windows of opportunity, Trump's proposed economic policies pose a significant threat to the stability and growth of Black-owned businesses, necessitating proactive strategies for mitigat...

The Fifth Circuit Court’s decision to strike down Nasdaq's diversity rules marks a significant step backward in the push for greater equity and inclusion in corporate America. The opposition to these rules, cloaked in the language of fairness and anti-quota sentiment, is in reality a bad-faith objection rooted in resistance to racial and gender equity. This ruling exemplifies how deeply entrenched systemic bias continues to hinder progress, using legal and political channels to reinforce exclusionary practices. At its core, Nasdaq's diversity rules aimed to increase transparency and accountability. They required companies to disclose the gender and racial composition of their boards and either meet modest diversity targets or explain their inability to do so. These rules were not mandates but tools to incentivize diversity while preserving corporate discretion. The data overwhelmingly supports that diverse boards lead to better governance and stronger financial performance—a w...

The November 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) report highlights inflation trends that carry several significant implications for minority-owned businesses. These businesses, often operating with tighter margins and more limited access to capital than their counterparts, are disproportionately affected by changes in key economic indicators.  Key Findings and Implications 1. Overall Inflation Increase:    - The CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) rose by 0.3% in November, following a steady 0.2% increase in prior months. This marks a slight acceleration in inflation, with the 12-month rate rising to 2.7%.    - Implication: While this increase remains moderate, it signals persistent inflationary pressures. Minority businesses may face higher costs for goods and services, potentially squeezing profitability unless they can pass on these costs to customers, which may be difficult in price-sensitive markets. 2. Shelter Costs:    - The shelter index increased ...

  White Unemployment Seasonally Adjusted: 3.8%, showing stability over the last few months with no major fluctuations. Trend Observation: The White unemployment rate has remained relatively steady over the past year, maintaining a low rate with minor variations. Black Unemployment 6.4% in November 2024, showing an increase from 5.7% in September and October 2024. This represents a notable uptick in unemployment. Trend Observation: The Black unemployment rate continues to demonstrate volatility and remains significantly higher than other groups. The recent increase in November indicates persistent challenges for this demographic in the labor market. Asian Population 3.8% in November 2024, a slight decrease from 4.1% in September and October, suggesting marginal improvement. Trend Observation: Asian unemployment remains among the lowest, with November showing improvement compared to earlier in the year. Hispanic or Latino Ethnicity 5.3% in November 2024, slightly increased from 5.1% ...