Wei Li, a Master of Economics in Industrial Economics of the Guangxi University in China, has joined Martti Ahtisaari Institute as a visiting researcher from November 2020 to November 2021. He will carry out research on greenwashing and financial performance, working towards a doctoral dissertation to be defended at the South China University of Technology in China.
The concept of greenwashing was coined already in 1986 and was initially applied only in an environmental context. Later, it has gained a broader meaning, involving various social and economic issues. Broadly speaking, it can be defined as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, where firms make use of a symbolic measure to communicate their CSR performance, but with few substantive actions to back it up.
Wei Li’s research topic is well aligned with the institute’s aim at addressing sustainable and responsible businesses and the global economy as a whole.
Veikko Seppänen