Social Bonds as Drivers of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

International Scientific Multidisciplinary Conference: AI for a Smarter Tomorrow

Bojana Olgić Draženović - University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, I. Filipovića 4, 51000, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia ORCID

Stella Suljić Nikolaj - University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, I. Filipovića 4, 51000, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia ORCID

Teodora Raguž - University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, I. Filipovića 4, 51000, Rijeka, Republic of Croatia ORCID

Abstract:

This article analyses the development, regulatory framework and perspectives of social bonds as innovative instruments of sustainable financing. Social bonds are used to channel capital into projects with clearly defined social benefits, such as job creation, affordable housing, healthcare and education. Their growth reflects the increasing alignment of financial markets with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles while addressing pressing societal challenges. The discussion emphasises the role of international standards and the European regulatory framework in ensuring transparency, accountability and measurable results. In that context, digitalisation and new tools such as artificial intelligence can improve monitoring and impact reporting, strengthening investor confidence. By analysing their contribution to mobilising resources for socially inclusive projects, the paper highlights how social bonds support both financial returns and long-term social value creation

International Scientific Multidisciplinary Conference: AI for a Smarter Tomorrow - AI-SMART , September 25-26, 2025

Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission.

Suggested Citation

Olgić Draženović, B., Suljić Nikolaj, S., & Raguž, T. (2025). Social Bonds as Drivers of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. (pp. 265-272). https://doi.org/10.31410/AI.SMART.2025.265

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