Rodrigo Leite

Assistant Professor of Finance (with tenure) | COPPEAD/UFRJ

rodrigo.oliveira@coppead.ufrj.br

About Me

Profile Picture

Much of my research is motivated by questions in financial economics, though my work also deals in the fields of accounting, psychology and public policy. I am interested in understanding how humans make financial decisions and the roles of certain biases on the decision-making process, including how these biases may affect the performance of individuals and groups. My topics of interest also include the dynamics of financial institutions and disavantaged groups, especially regarding microfinance and microcredit. Finally, a new topic of research that I am pursuing is regarding the efficiency of public procurement processes and state-owned enterprises. My research has been published in journals in the fields of finance, business, and accounting such as the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, Journal of Business Ethics, The International Journal of Accounting, Accounting Forum, International Journal of Finance and Economics, and Finance Research Letters.

Selected Publications

  • (2025) R. Leite, F. Moraes, & M. Moura. Pay to Pump: Financial Influencers and Stock Returns. Applied Economics Letters, forthcoming. Link | Internet Appendix
  • (2025) L. Moura, L. Sacramento, R. Leite, & S. Bastos. Mask Usage During Earnings Calls as an Impression Management Tool. Latin American Business Review, forthcoming. Link
  • (2025) R. Leite, L. Mendes, & I. Coutinho. The Political Economy of Banks’ Cash Holdings. Journal of Economic Studies, forthcoming. Link
  • (2025) L. Pilla, A. Peci, & R. Leite. Financial Performance of State-Owned Enterprises: Does Political Ideology Play a Role?. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory 35(3): 338–351 Link | Data and Code | Internet Appendix
  • (2025) L. Pilla, A. Peci, & R. Leite. Is the State a Socially Responsible Shareholder? State-Owned Enterprises, Political Ideology, and Corporate Social Performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 197(2): 289-309. Link
  • (2025) L. Barcellos, R. Cardoso, & R. Leite. The Effects of Cognitive Reflection and Work Experience on Financial Statement Comparability Under Principles-Based Accounting Standards. Accounting Forum, 49(2): 449-471. Link
  • (2025) R. Leite, L. Sacramento, & B. Paiva. Competition and Efficiency in Procurement Auctions: Evidence from a Million Brazilian Auctions. Journal of Public Finance and Public Choice, 40(1): 2-22. Link
  • (2024) R. Cardoso, R. Leite, A. Balloni, & T. Fonseca. When Enough is Enough: The Impact of Combined Graphical Impression Management on Financial Judgement. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 43: 100969. Link
  • (2024) R. Leite, L. Mendes, & E. Camelo. Innovating Microcredit: How Fintechs Change the Field. Journal of Economics and Business, 128: 106158. Link
  • (2023) R. Cardoso, R. Leite, & A. Aquino. Probable at First Glance, but Unlikely After a Closer Look: The Role of Cognitive Reflection Ability in the Assessment of Probabilistic Expressions. The International Journal of Accounting, 58(2): 2350004. Link
  • (2022) L. Mendes, R. Leite, & J. Fajardo. Do Contingent Convertible Bonds Reduce Systemic Risk? Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, 78: 101554. Link
  • (2022) W. Cheng, R. Leite, & F. Caldieraro. Financial Contagion in Internet Lending Platforms: Who Pays the Price? Finance Research Letters, 45: 102187. Link | Internet Appendix
  • (2021) G. Fernandes, L. Mendes, & R. Leite. Cash Holdings and Profitability of Banks in Developed and Emerging Markets. International Review of Economics and Finance, 71: 880-995. Link
  • (2020) R. Leite, R. Cardoso, A. Jelihovschi, & J. Civitarese. Job Market Compensation for Cognitive Reflection Ability. Research in Economics, 74(1): 87-93. Link
  • (2020) R. Leite, L. Mendes, & R. Moreira. Profit Status of Microfinance Institutions and Incentives for Earnings Management. Research in International Business and Finance, 54: 101255. Link
  • (2019) R. Leite, L. Mendes, & L. Sacramento. To Profit or not to Profit? Assessing Financial Sustainability Outcomes of Microfinance Institutions. International Journal of Finance and Economics, 24(3): 1287-1299. Link
  • (2019) R. Leite & J. Civitarese. Microfinance for Women: Are There Economic Reasons? Evidence from Latin America. Economics Bulletin, 39(1): 571-580. Link
  • (2018) R. Cardoso, R. Leite, & A. Aquino. The Effect of Cognitive Reflection on the Efficacy of Impression Management: An Experimental Analysis with Financial Analysts. Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal , 31(6): 1668-1690. Link
  • (2016) R. Cardoso, R. Leite, & A. Aquino. A Graph is Worth a Thousand Words: How Overconfidence and Graphical Disclosure of Numerical Information Influence Financial Analysts' Accuracy on Decision Making. PLOS One, 11(8): e0160443. Link | Data | Code for Main Results | Code for Robustness Checks

Working Papers

  • (2025) L. Pilla, A. Peci, & R. Leite. State-Owned Enterprises, Public Corporate Governance Codes, and Financial Performance: Evidence from Brazil, Revise and Resubmit at Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society.
  • (2025) R. Leite. The Public Cost of Economic Policy Uncertainty: Evidence from Brazilian Public Procurements, Revise and Resubmit at Finance Research Letters.
  • (2025) I. Lamas, & R. Leite. What Drives Stock Returns in Brazil's Real Estate Sector?, Revise and Resubmit at the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management.
  • (2025) R. Leite, F. Caldieraro, M. Jardim, & P. Novaes. From Noise to Information: The Need for Signal Clarifiers in IPO Markets, Submitted.
  • (2025) R. Leite, F. Moraes, & M. Moura. Hedging Against Uncertainty: Economic Policy Uncertainty and Household Asset Financing, Submitted.

Recognition & Awards

Awards & Honors

  • Nominated for the Carolyn Dexter Award for Best International Paper, 2024, Academy of Management.
  • Top 10 Download List, 2024, Social Science Research Network (SSRN).
  • Clovis L. Machado-da-Silva Award, 2023, Brazilian Academy of Management Meeting.
  • Best Strategy Paper, 2023, Brazilian Academy of Management Meeting.
  • Young Researcher Fellowship, 2022, FAPERJ.
  • Top 10 Download List, 2021, Social Science Research Network (SSRN).
  • Best Plenary Section Paper, 2018, USP International Conference in Accounting.
  • Best Accounting Paper, 2016, Brazilian Academy of Management Meeting.
  • Youngest tenure-track professor of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro at the time of entering.

Professional Service

  • Elected Member of the Board of the Brazilian Finance Society (since 2023).
  • Elected Member of the Board of the Brazilian Academy of Management (2024–2026).
  • Elected Member of the Council of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (2020–2023).

Contact

Email: rodrigo.oliveira@coppead.ufrj.br
Office: Rua Pascoal Lemme 355 Room 408, 21941-918, Rio de Janeiro - Brazil