Finance and Financial Management Commons^™

Esg Investing: From Fad To Force, Erin Cullen

Senior Theses

ESG Investing is the application of environmental, social, and governance factors to identify material investment risks and growth opportunities. Though traditionally viewed as non-financial factors, this paper asserts that ESG factors are indeed financially material. This work first surveys the current state of ESG Investing, its shortcomings, and its success despite these inherent issues. Section II adds a new perspective to ESG research by examining the applications of ESG scores in portfolio management. The study conducts t-tests to answer whether the typical holdings of an ESG mutual fund are more sustainable than those of traditional funds. The paper then focuses …

Yield Generation Using Decentralized Financial (Defi) Applications, Nathan Walton

Senior Theses

Decentralized financial (DeFi) applications are a new generation of financial service applications, composed of coded smart contracts, and deployed on a blockchain network. These applications offer several methods of generating yield on deposited funds, much like a traditional bank. In this paper I provide a definition of several key terms and a breakdown of the primary mechanisms through which yield is generated. Additionally, I examine three of the main types of DeFi applications, the services they provide, and how they execute these services. I then provide an overview of four strategies involving cash and leverage and estimate the potential benefits …

Building A Future Microfinance Community In Kenya, Jack Spiehs

Senior Theses

The lack of access to financial tools has been a significant problem in many areas around the world for a long time. It prevents certain groups of people from being able to progress financially and improve their economic standing. This issue stems from an overall lack of resources and infrastructure in the area. Without the acquisition of new funds, there is no path to poverty alleviation in underdeveloped areas. Currently, the global response has been to try to provide these resources through various methods, including microfinance activities.

Microfinance institutions have been operating in Kenya for decades. They provide a variety …