On February 27, 2023, the Youth Academic Forum at the School of Finance hosted Ran Duchin, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis and Finance Professor at the Carroll School of Management, Boston College, as the key speaker. The lecture was moderated by Associate Professor Li Xinming, Director of the Academic Development Center of the School of Finance.

The lecture revolved around “Sustainability or GreenWashing.” Professor Ran Duchin addressed three pivotal questions: How does the pollution level change after companies divest from polluting factories and transfer ownership? What motivates companies to buy or sell polluting assets? What are the benefits of trading polluting assets? The research concluded that divesting factories did not result in changes to pollution levels or emission reduction efforts, because publicly traded firms sold polluting factories to private entities that lacked ESG ratings. Sellers benefited from unloading dirty factories, while buyers acquired assets at discounted prices. Prof. Ran Duchin concluded that the significance of this study lies in incorporating pollution generated along the company's value chain to prevent ESG rating arbitrage. Furthermore, Prof. Ran Duchin provided detailed advice on high-quality academic research, including how to generate ideas, cultivate reading habits and improve writing skills, and sharing insights from the peer-review and publication processes. Emphasizing the importance of self-motivation in academic research, Prof. Ran Duchin encouraged scholars to embrace criticism while providing convincing responses to research questions. During the Q&A session, Prof. Ran Duchin patiently answered the questions from young faculty and students, sharing in the academic feast.

This lecture marks the 14th installment of the Youth Academic Forum” at the School of Finance. By inviting renowned financial scholars and economists from around the world, the forum serves as a vital platform for academic exchange, enabling young scholars and students to grasp international academic frontiers, master advanced methods, broaden research perspectives and facilitate academic discourse. The event underscores the School of Finance’s commitment to nurturing versatile and dedicated financial talents, and is jointly organized by the Academic Development Center and the Center for Professional Master's Center at the School of Finance.