Zhi Li

Dr. Zhi Li serves as an Associate Professor in The George L. Argyros College of Business and Economics at Chapman University, contributing to academic discourse through research at the intersection of accounting and finance.

Education

• Ph.D. from Arizona State University
• Master of Science from Boston College

Research Interests

Dr. Li's work centers on executive compensation structures, corporate governance mechanisms, and financial reporting implications. Her scholarship investigates how compensation disclosures influence market expectations, incentive alignment in family-controlled firms, and the role of accounting metrics in contractual arrangements. Key emphases include:

• Performance expectation signaling through compensation design
• Nonfamily executive incentives in family businesses
• Temporal dimensions of compensation and strategic decisions
• Debt covenant enforcement through accounting metrics

Publication Trends

Her recent publications (2019-2023) reveal consistent focus on compensation disclosure efficacy, governance challenges in family enterprises, and accounting's contractual role. The research demonstrates how compensation structures serve as performance signals, examines incentive misalignments in family firms, uncovers acquisition risks from extended compensation horizons, and analyzes debt contract design. These works employ empirical methodologies published in premier journals including Journal of Accounting and Economics and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.