Investigating how Financial Investments are being directed toward Social Impact Projects, such as Education, Healthcare, and Poverty Alleviation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47067/ramss.v7i4.416Keywords:
Social Impact Investing, Education, Healthcare, Poverty Alleviation, Investment Trends, Economic Development, Public-Private Partnerships, Social Return on Investment (SROI), GovernanceAbstract
This study looks into the factors that influence the allocation of financial investments in social impact projects, specifically in education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation sectors. As social investments become more important in addressing global challenges, understanding how financial resources are directed toward these critical sectors is essential for fostering sustainable development. A quantitative method was used, and financial data obtained from various countries were collected to analyze the relationship that exists between investment levels and these key economic, political, and governance-related factors. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were carried out using SPSS to identify the determinants of investment in these sectors. The results suggest that the variables that are significantly influential are economic factors, such as GDP, policy incentives, institutional capacity, and political stability. Descriptive statistics revealed the highest investment to be healthcare, followed by education and poverty alleviation, whereas correlation analysis shows a strong positive relationship between GDP and levels of investment in all the sectors. Regression analysis confirmed that policy incentives and FDI were some of the strong predictors for investment in healthcare, but institutional capacity was the crucial determinant for education. The study sustains the hypotheses that these investments are positively correlated to economic development, vary differently between public and private sector allocation, and are also governed by the expected returns from investment. The study concludes with policy recommendations to optimize investment strategies, including the promotion of public-private partnerships, the development of metrics for Social Return on Investment (SROI), and strengthening institutional frameworks. It also suggests areas for future research, especially in the exploration of long-term impacts of social impact investments and cross-country comparisons.
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