Li Xie PhD

Assistant Professor in Finance

My primary research interests lie in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Patents; SMEs; R&D subsidies); Corporate Governance (e.g., non-financial information disclosure, impression management, & earnings management); CSR/ESG; Innovation Intermediaries; Digital Transformation; Text Analysis.


  • PhD , Durham University, - 2014
  • MSc , Durham University, - 2009


  • Assistant Professor in Finance, International Business School Suzhou, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University - 2016 to Present
  • Research Fellow in Accounting and Finance, University of Southampton - 2015 to 2016
  • Teaching Assistant, International Finance, Durham University - 2012 to 2014


  • Innovation and Entrepreneurship (patents; R&D subsidies; SMEs)
  • Corporate Governance (e.g., non-financial information disclosure, impression management, & earnings management)
  • CSR & ESG
  • Innovation Intermediaries
  • Digital Transformation
  • Text Analysis


  • XIE, L, 2020 'Managerial multi-tasking, team diversity, and mutual fund performance', Journal of Corporate Finance, (Co-authored with Chen, J; and Zhou, S).
  • XIE, L, 2019 'The certification effect of government R&D subsidies on innovative entrepreneurial firms' access to bank finance: evidence from China', Small Business Economics, (Co-authored with Li, L; Chen, J; and Gao, H).
  • XIE, L, 2017 '政府研发支持行为影响高科技企业外部融资吗 - 基于组织合法性理论的解释', 南开管理评论, (Co-authored)
  • XIE, L, 2015 'A Multiple-Goal Investment Strategy for Sovereign Wealth Funds: An Application to China', Asian Economic Papers, (Co-authored with Woo, W. T; Zhang, Z; and Zhang, Z).
  • XIE, L, 2015 'Determinants of Financial Distress in Large Financial Institutions: Evidence from U.S. Bank Holding Companies', Contemporary Economic Policy, (Co-authored with Zhang, Z; Lu, X; and Zhang, Z).
  • XIE, L, 2013 'Accumulation of Large Foreign Reserves in China: A Behavioural Perspective', Economic Change and Restructuring, (Co-authored with Zhang, Z; and Chau, F).


  • Xie, Li, 2021 'Suzhou Industrial Park: Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship.' Springer Nature, (Co-authored with Lu, Xiangyun).
  • XIE, Li, 2020 'Corporate Governance of Chinese Multinational Corporations', Palgrave Macmillan, (Co-authored with Lin, R; and Chen, J).


  • 2009-2010, The 21st Chinese Economic Association (UK) and 2nd CEA (Europe) Annual Conference / Precautionary Reserves of Emerging Economies: a Behavioural Approach under Loss Aversion
  • 2011-2012, The 2011 Annual Meeting of the Academy of Behavioural Finance & Economics / A Behavioural Model of Optimal Decision Under Uncertainty: An Application To China's Foreign Reserves
  • 2011-2012, The 19th Annual Conference of the Multinational Finance Society / Accumulation of Large Foreign Reserves in China: A Behavioural Model of Optimal Decision Making under Uncertainty
  • 2012-2013, The 24th Chinese Economic Association (UK) and 5th CEA (Europe) Annual Conference / Strategic Asset Allocation for a Central Bank with Multiple Objectives in Foreign Reserves Management
  • 2013-2014, The Asian Economic Panel Meeting 2013 / A Multiple-Goal Investment Strategy for Sovereign Wealth Funds: The Case of China
  • 2013-2014, Foreign Exchange Reserves Management Conference / Strategic Asset Allocation for a Central Bank with Multiple Objectives in Foreign Reserves Management
  • 2015-2016, The 1st Annual ICGS Conference / The Effect of Corporate Reputation on Earnings Management Behaviour: Evidence from U.S. Companies
  • 2016-2017, 2016 Auckland Finance Meeting / Common Holdings in Mutual Fund Family
  • 2015-2016, 91st Annual Conference of Western Economic Association International / Common Holdings in Mutual Fund Family
  • 2017-2018, Accounting Horizons Special Forum / Strategic Information Disclosure and Impression Management under Weak Corporate Governance: From Excessive Executive Compensation Perspective
  • 2017-2018, Financial Management Association Annual Meeting / If Busy, Team Up! When Multitasking Fund Manager Meets Team
  • 2016-2017, The European Financial Management 2017 Symposium on Finance and Real Economy / If Busy, Team Up! When Multitasking Fund Manager Meets Team
  • 2017-2018, Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics Symposium / Strategic Information Disclosure and Impression Management under Weak Corporate Governance: From Excessive Executive Compensation Perspective


  • XIE, LI 2020, Co-Investigator, the Key Programme Special Fund (KSF), RMB 140,000
  • XIE, LI 2020, Co-Investigator, the University's Research Development Fund (RDF), RMB 47,000
  • XIE, LI 2017, Principal Investigator, the University's Research Development Fund, RMB 87,000
  • XIE, LI 2013, Co-Investigator, University College Dublin Travel Grants, ,
  • XIE, LI 2013, Co-Investigator, Durham University Business School Conference Travel Awards, ,
  • XIE, LI 2013, Co-Investigator, Bank of Canada Grants, ,


  • Ad hoc journal referee for (1) Journal of Business Finance and Accounting; (2) Small Business Economics; (3) International Small Business Journal; (4) Corporate Governance: an international review; (5) International Journal of Finance and Economics; (6) European Journal of Finance; (7) Review of Industrial Organization; (8) Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies; (9) The Singapore Economic Review; (10) SN Business & Economics


  • FIN409 Financial Analysis
  • I have been supervising one PhD student as principal supervisor and one PhD student as co-supervisor.
  • Dissertation supervision experience: FIN405 Industry Research Project and FIN412 Finance Dissertation, and undergraduate dissertation of BUS303 Final Year Dissertation.
  • I had previously taught ACF205 International Finance, ACF202 Accounting Theory, ACF438 Topics in Contemporary Accounting and Finance, ACF449 International Financial Management Dissertation, and Tutorials of ACF108 Introduction to Finance.


  • Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA); 2020
Li Xie