Over half of U.S. investors think that socially responsible mutual funds contribute to better corporate behavior, reducing risk and boosting returns, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted on behalf of SRI asset manager Calvert Group, finds that 55% of Americans believe it is very important that socially responsible mutual funds use their influence to prod corporations to act more socially responsible; and 52% believe that SRI mutual funds are at least somewhat successful at achieving these sorts of goals.

Survey respondents indicated that SRI mutual funds contribute the most to product safety (66%), corporate honesty (60%), environmental safety (59%), generating fairer wages for employees (55%); reducing sweat shop labor conditions in Third World countries (52%); and making it more likely that women and minorities will be hired and promoted (both at 51%).

Reggie Stanley, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Calvert, said, “These survey results show that investors are encouraged by the impact SRI has on business. Furthermore, investors understand that through investment in SRI, they themselves can have an impact on corporate behavior. “

Over half of the respondents (55%) indicate they strongly/somewhat agree that socially responsible companies carry less risk, and 52% agree that they deliver better returns, the survey found. It also found that knowing that a company is rated higher in terms of their social performance would make 71 % of Americans more likely to invest in that company and 77% of Americans would purchase more of their products and services.

Also, of respondents who are not SRI investors, 54% are interested in investing in them, increased significantly from 1999 (40%) and somewhat from 2002 (49%).

“The survey trends support the assertion that investors are interested in socially responsible investment products,” said Dr. Hal Quinley, vice president of The Segmentation Company, which conducted the survey. “Trends also show us that a shift has occurred in the social issues investors care about. For example, in 1996, tobacco was a major concern. Today, corporate integrity tops that list.”

The margin of error for the main sample is ±3.5%.