Rate My Professor Lei Xu

Dr. Lei Xu is an Associate Professor in Finance and Senior Lecturer in the School of Accounting and Finance, College of Business and Law, at Adelaide University. He holds a PhD in Finance from the University of South Australia, complemented by extensive practical experience in banking from roles at the Bank of China and China Merchants Bank. Throughout his career, Dr. Xu has served as a visiting academic, teaching into graduate programs in China, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia. He has also been associated with the University of South Australia in committee roles. Widely recognized for his expertise, Dr. Xu is in high demand as a PhD supervisor and examiner. His unique blend of academic rigor and industry insight enables him to bridge theory and practice effectively, making him an exceptional educator who provides valuable real-world perspectives to students in finance.

Dr. Xu's research specializations include banking, corporate governance, financial markets, financial systems, and FinTech. He has authored and co-authored over 70 high-quality publications in prestigious international journals such as the Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Australian Journal of Management, Accounting & Finance, China Economic Review, and the British Accounting Review. Key publications encompass 'Navigating environmental disclosures across Chinese financial institutions: A longitudinal study of pilot banks' (2026, Pacific Accounting Review), 'Negative interest rates and bank credit risk-taking' (2026, Australian Journal of Management), 'Action beyond the sky high: Capital structure adjustment speed of Chinese space firms' (2026, China Economic Review), 'Fintech engagement by non-financial firms and the speed of capital structure adjustment' (2026, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal), 'Fintech business and shadow banking practices' (2026, Pacific-Basin Finance Journal), 'The impact of supply chain finance on firm capital structure adjustment: Evidence from China' (2023, Australian Journal of Management), and 'Supply chain finance and firm diversification: Evidence from China' (2023, Australian Journal of Management). These works explore critical issues like negative interest rates' effects on bank risk-taking, FinTech's role in capital structure and shadow banking, sustainability reporting in finance, green loans for polluters, and corporate social responsibility practices. Dr. Xu's innovative teaching, methodological expertise, and research contributions have significantly advanced the finance discipline. He currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of Economics & Politics.