This index is the first of its kind in measuring the economic activities in oceans and waterways with a tilt towards their environmental impact. This gives investors access to the growing impact of economic development around the oceans as there continues to be a population shift toward coastal communities.
The index is a collaborative process between UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE), UNCW’s Cameron School of Business, and FactSet, a global financial data company (factset.com).
Comprised of the largest companies that operate in the oceans while maintaining strict adherence to their environmental impact, the UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index stays true to the World Bank's definition of the Blue Economy, "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.”
The UNC Wilmington Blue Economy Index will soon be published globally and available for global asset managers to license for inclusion in financial products.