Thesis Defense - Funda Sever, M.Sc. Financial Engineering and Risk Management

PRODUCT DIFFERENTIATION AS A TOOL OF SUSTAINABILITY

AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE  

Funda Sever, M.Sc. Financial Engineering

Date: August 21, 2019

Time: 16:00

Location:  Özyeğin University Financial Engineering Center, Altunizade, İstanbul 

Thesis Committee:

Dr. Levent Güntay, Advisor, Özyeğin University

Dr. Muzaffer Akat, Özyeğin Üniversity

Dr. Erkan Yönder, Concordia University 

Abstract:

Sustainable product differentiation has been distinguished essential factors to assist environmental balance of ecosystem, gain growth to sustainable future. Defining sustainable product differentiation is initiated with ecological and environmental innovations and sustaining on market. This paper focus on environmental product differentiation aspect on sustainability. Analysis examines the relationship between sustainable product differentiation and financial performance employing the industries in WRDS as sample. Within this frame, ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Rating and Environment Score are dataset which is related to sustainable product differentiation and WRDS Industry Financial Ratio dataset which is financial ratios based on sector are obtained. The analysis which is made with 10 years samples on 25 industry put some essential points: Which sectors do reflect sustainable changings to financial ratios? Which dimension of ESG rating does affect sectors? , How do some sectors, cannot make sustainable product differentiation due to main activities, manage sustainable development in their business model? , etc. 

Bio:

Funda Sever received the B. A. in  International Trade and Finance  and Business Administration (Double Major), İzmir university of Economics, İzmir, Turkey in June 2016. She is pursuing a M.Sc. in Financial Engineering at Özyeğin University under the supervision of Dr. Levent Güntay.  She worked as a Corporate, Specialized and Project Loans Associate in Garanti BBVA. She is planning to apply a PhD program in Business.