CHEN Xia
(On Leave)
Dr Chen Xia joined SMU in 2011. She has previously taught at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (US). She got her Ph.D. and MBA from University of Chicago (US) and M.A. and B.S. from Tsinghua University (China). Her research interests include institutional investors, financial analysts, family firms, and earnings restatements. She has published in Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Financial Economics, Contemporary Accounting Research, and other journals. Her teaching interests include financial reporting and financial accounting theory.
Education
PhD in Accounting, University of Chicago, US
MBA, University of Chicago, US
M.A. in Accounting, Tsinghua University, China
B.S. in Management Information System, Tsinghua University, China
Research Interests
Financial analysts
Institutional investors
Family firms
Earnings restatements
Teaching Interests
Financial Reporting
Financial Accounting Theory
Empirical Accounting Research Seminar
Selected Recognition and Awards
Charles Horngren Fellowship, 2002 – 2003
Deloitte & Touche Doctoral Fellowship, 2001 – 2002
American Accounting Association Doctoral Consortium, 2001
Big Ten+ Doctoral Consortium, 2000
University of Chicago Summer Research Award, 1999
Selected Appointments and Services
Editorial board, European Accounting Review
Ad hoc Reviewer for Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Accounting Horizons, Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, Financial Management, Abacus, Advances in Accounting, Journal of Empirical Finance, other journals, Financial Accounting and Reporting Section mid-year conferences, AAA annual meetings, CAAA annual meetings, CAPANA conferences, Hong Kong Research Grant Bureau, and SSHRC standard research grant (Canada).
Research/Co-Research Advisor To
GE Wenzhi, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F), (wenzhi.ge.2019@dba.smu.edu.sg)
HUANG Lifen, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F) (lifen.huang.2022@dba.smu.edu.sg)
QIAN Tianfeng, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F) (tfqian.2022@dba.smu.edu.sg)
PENG Xuefan, PhD in Accounting, (xfpeng.2020@phdacc.smu.edu.sg)
TIAN Yajing, PhD in Accounting, (yjtian.2022@phdacc.smu.edu.sg)
Selected Publications
“Family Ownership and CEO Turnovers,” with Qiang Cheng and Zhonglan Dai, Contemporary Accounting Research, forthcoming.
“On the Relationship between Analyst Reports and Corporate Disclosures: Exploring the Roles of Information Discovery and Interpretation,” April 2010, with Qiang Cheng and Kin Lo, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 49 (3): 206-226.
“Are Family Firms More Tax Aggressive than Non-family Firms?” January 2010, with Shuping Chen, Qiang Cheng and Terry Shevlin, Journal of Financial Economics 95: 41-61.
“Do Family Firms Provide More or Less Voluntary Disclosure?” June 2008, with Shuping Chen and Qiang Cheng, Journal of Accounting Research 46 (3): 499-536.
“Monitoring: Which Institutions Matter?” November 2007 (lead article), with Kai Li and Jarrad Harford, Journal of Financial Economics 86 (2): 279-305.
Research Areas and Areas of Expertise
Strategic Priorities
HighlightsDistinguished by rigorous empirical research that bridges theory and practice, Xia Chen's work has advanced understanding of analyst and investor behavior, family business governance, and the implications of accounting regulation and innovation. Recognized for methodological rigor, cross-disciplinary relevance, and real-world impact, with sustained contributions to top journals and the academic community.
Focused research areas include Examines the behavior and impact of financial analysts and institutional investors, the dynamics of family firms, earnings management and restatements, corporate governance mechanisms, and the effects of regulatory reforms and technological innovations (e.g., blockchain) on accounting and finance.
- MOE Tier 2 Research Grant, Co-investigator, with Qiang Cheng and Ting Luo, 2020, $267,000
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School research grant (2010-2011), $20,000
- SSHRC standard grant (2009-2012), collaborator, with Yanmin Gao and Karim Jamal, $130,000 (including teaching buy-outs)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School research grant (2009-2010), $20,000
- Family Business Center at Sauder School of Business (UBC) research grant (2008), with Qiang Cheng, $15,000
Showing up to 6 latest publications from the past 5 years.
- X Chen, N Jia, D WangContemporary Accounting Research 42 (2), 737-773, 2025
- X Chen, Q Cheng, X Peng, Z ZhanAvailable at SSRN 5389081, 2025
- X Chen, Q Cheng, T LuoManagement Science 70 (1), 439-463, 2024
- X Chen, Q Cheng, AK Lo, X WangJournal of Business Finance & Accounting 50 (9-10), 1671-1714, 2023
- X Chen, N Li, AP LinThe Accounting Review 97 (6), 173-200, 2022
- X Chen, G Gong, S LuoContemporary Accounting Research 39 (2), 1455-1508, 2022
Dr Chen Xia joined SMU in 2011. She has previously taught at the University of British Columbia (Canada) and University of Wisconsin-Madison (US). She got her Ph.D. and MBA from University of Chicago (US) and M.A. and B.S. from Tsinghua University (China). Her research interests include institutional investors, financial analysts, family firms, and earnings restatements. She has published in Journal of Accounting and Economics, Journal of Accounting Research, Journal of Financial Economics, Contemporary Accounting Research, and other journals. Her teaching interests include financial reporting and financial accounting theory.
Education
PhD in Accounting, University of Chicago, US
MBA, University of Chicago, US
M.A. in Accounting, Tsinghua University, China
B.S. in Management Information System, Tsinghua University, China
Research Interests
Financial analysts
Institutional investors
Family firms
Earnings restatements
Teaching Interests
Financial Reporting
Financial Accounting Theory
Empirical Accounting Research Seminar
Selected Recognition and Awards
Charles Horngren Fellowship, 2002 – 2003
Deloitte & Touche Doctoral Fellowship, 2001 – 2002
American Accounting Association Doctoral Consortium, 2001
Big Ten+ Doctoral Consortium, 2000
University of Chicago Summer Research Award, 1999
Selected Appointments and Services
Editorial board, European Accounting Review
Ad hoc Reviewer for Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, Contemporary Accounting Research, Review of Accounting Studies, Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, Accounting Horizons, Journal of Accounting, Auditing, and Finance, Journal of Banking and Finance, Financial Management, Abacus, Advances in Accounting, Journal of Empirical Finance, other journals, Financial Accounting and Reporting Section mid-year conferences, AAA annual meetings, CAAA annual meetings, CAPANA conferences, Hong Kong Research Grant Bureau, and SSHRC standard research grant (Canada).
Research/Co-Research Advisor To
GE Wenzhi, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F), (wenzhi.ge.2019@dba.smu.edu.sg)
HUANG Lifen, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F) (lifen.huang.2022@dba.smu.edu.sg)
QIAN Tianfeng, SMU-ZJU DBA(A&F) (tfqian.2022@dba.smu.edu.sg)
PENG Xuefan, PhD in Accounting, (xfpeng.2020@phdacc.smu.edu.sg)
TIAN Yajing, PhD in Accounting, (yjtian.2022@phdacc.smu.edu.sg)
Selected Publications
“Family Ownership and CEO Turnovers,” with Qiang Cheng and Zhonglan Dai, Contemporary Accounting Research, forthcoming.
“On the Relationship between Analyst Reports and Corporate Disclosures: Exploring the Roles of Information Discovery and Interpretation,” April 2010, with Qiang Cheng and Kin Lo, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 49 (3): 206-226.
“Are Family Firms More Tax Aggressive than Non-family Firms?” January 2010, with Shuping Chen, Qiang Cheng and Terry Shevlin, Journal of Financial Economics 95: 41-61.
“Do Family Firms Provide More or Less Voluntary Disclosure?” June 2008, with Shuping Chen and Qiang Cheng, Journal of Accounting Research 46 (3): 499-536.
“Monitoring: Which Institutions Matter?” November 2007 (lead article), with Kai Li and Jarrad Harford, Journal of Financial Economics 86 (2): 279-305.
