Sustainable finance at Edinburgh Napier University on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Anna Du No more applications being accepted Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Edinburgh United Kingdom Financial Economics Economics

About the Project

Sustainable finance addresses the urgent global challenge of achieving environmental sustainability and combating climate change. It focuses on integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into financial decision-making, promoting responsible investment practices, and directing capital towards sustainable development. Sustainable finance has gained significant momentum in recent years due to increased awareness of the environmental and social impacts of economic activities. Governments, businesses, and investors are recognizing the need to transition towards a more sustainable and low-carbon economy. This project in sustainable finance can contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this field and help shape policies and practices for a more sustainable financial system. Sustainable finance is inherently interdisciplinary, combining elements of finance, economics, environmental science, policy, and social impact. This project provides an opportunity to explore the interconnections between finance and sustainability, fostering collaboration across disciplines and generating insights that can inform both academia and industry. Research in sustainable finance also focuses on understanding the financial performance and risk implications of sustainable investments. Investigating the relationship between ESG factors and financial performance can provide valuable insights to investors and financial institutions, informing their decision-making and risk management strategies.

Anticipated interview date: 10^th July

Academic qualifications

A first degree (at least a 2.1) ideally in finance, economics, environmental studies or related discipline with a good fundamental knowledge of ESG integration, impact investing, green bonds, sustainable investment strategies, and corporate sustainability reporting.

English language requirements

IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University's policy are available online Application process (napier.ac.uk).

Essential attributes:

Experience of fundamental research skills development
Competent in discipline-specific conceptual knowledge
Knowledge of ESG integration, impact investing, green bonds, and sustainable investment strategies
Good written and oral communication skills
Strong motivation, with evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
Good time management

Desirable attributes:

Creativity and versatility
Personal effectiveness
Knowledge of statistics applications (Stata, Eviews or Python)

Funding Notes

Fee waived PhD, no stipend

References

Barber, B. M., & Odean, T. (2008). All that glitters: The effect of attention and news on the buying behavior of individual and institutional investors. Review of Financial Studies, 21(2), 785-818.
Bollen, N. P., & Whaley, R. E. (2019). Sustainable finance: A review and analysis of investment trends and opportunities. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 9(1), 1-23.
Bose, S., Pal, S., & Sappington, D. E. (2020). Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. Journal of Business Ethics, 165(3), 399-426.
Chatterji, A. K., & Toffel, M. W. (2010). How firms respond to being rated. Strategic Management Journal, 31(9), 917-945.
Clark, G. L., Feiner, A., & Viehs, M. (2015). From the stockholder to the stakeholder: How sustainability can drive financial outperformance. Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, 5(4), 210-233.
Eccles, R. G., Ioannou, I., & Serafeim, G. (2014). The impact of corporate sustainability on organizational processes and performance. Management Science, 60(11), 2835-2857.
Grewal, J. S., & Taneja, S. (2021). Sustainable finance, ESG performance, and firm value: Evidence from global banks. Journal of Business Ethics, 168(3), 629-654.
Hoepner, A. G., Oikonomou, I., & Scholtens, B. (2018). The effects of corporate and country sustainability characteristics on the cost of debt: An international investigation. Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 45(1-2), 60-92.
Scholtens, B., & Wagner, N. (2018). A review of the literature on the finance and governance of social and environmental issues. Journal of Corporate Finance, 50, 222-239.