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An empirical test of SEC enforcement in the audit market

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  • Leventis, Stergios

Abstract

This paper provides evidence that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) enforcement policies affect audit pricing. Firms with a higher probability of enforcement by the SEC are hypothesized to experience increased pricing of audit services. According to Kedia and Rajgopal (2011), geographical proximity to SEC’s offices can serve as a proxy of enforcement probability. The hypothesis of the current paper is supported by the findings that audit firms charge companies with a higher enforcement probability significantly higher audit fees. Thus, audit pricing increases when auditors perceive an enhanced audit risk for firms with greater prominence on the SEC’s radar. Therefore, one can infer that the probability of SEC enforcement increases the need for shareholders to bear the costs of monitoring agents and that enforcement and audit provision are complementary devices.

Suggested Citation

  • Leventis, Stergios, 2018. "An empirical test of SEC enforcement in the audit market," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 106-116.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jiaata:v:30:y:2018:i:c:p:106-116
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2017.12.007
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Shan, Yuan George & Troshani, Indrit & Tarca, Ann, 2019. "Managerial ownership, audit firm size, and audit fees: Australian evidence," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 18-36.
    4. Alrashidi, Rasheed & Baboukardos, Diogenis & Arun, Thankom, 2021. "Audit fees, non-audit fees and access to finance: Evidence from India," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).
    5. Astrid Rudyanto, 2017. "Audit Firm Reputation versus Auditor Capability: Their Effect on Audit Quality in Indonesia," GATR Journals afr147, Global Academy of Training and Research (GATR) Enterprise.
    6. Di Fabio, Costanza & Ramassa, Paola & Quagli, Alberto, 2021. "Income smoothing in European banks: The contrasting effects of monitoring mechanisms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 43(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SEC; Audit pricing; Enforcement probability; Audit market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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