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A research note: Are auditors unable to detect classification shifting or merely not willing to report it? Evidence from India

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  • Desai, Naman
  • Nagar, Neerav

Abstract

Research indicates that auditors fail to curb classification shifting in countries with relatively weaker legal institutions. However, it is not known whether auditors are unable to detect misclassifications or if they are merely not motivated to report them. We conduct two experiments to examine this issue. Our results indicate that auditors are sensitive to classification shifting while assessing fraud risk and audit effort. However, their willingness to report such misclassifications is affected by the overall legal liability regime of the region in which their clients operate. More specifically, our results indicate that the presence of weaker legal regimes reduce the litigation risk faced by auditors which make them less likely to report misclassifications. On the other hand, auditors are significantly more likely to report misclassifications by qualifying their audit report if a company is cross-listed in a country with strong institutional controls and legal regime.

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  • Desai, Naman & Nagar, Neerav, 2016. "A research note: Are auditors unable to detect classification shifting or merely not willing to report it? Evidence from India," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 111-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:12:y:2016:i:2:p:111-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2016.06.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Junwei Lu & Xiaoxia Bu & Jing Chen, 2021. "Do inflowing sophisticated investors induce classification shifting? New evidence from market liberalisation in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(5), pages 6193-6223, December.
    3. Nagar, Neerav & Desai, Naman & Jacob, Joshy, 2021. "Do Big 4 auditors limit classification shifting? Evidence from India," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
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    5. Saibal Ghosh, 2023. "Auditor Exits and Firm Performance: Is There a Link?," Journal of Emerging Market Finance, Institute for Financial Management and Research, vol. 22(1), pages 31-56, March.
    6. Meshram, Vedprakash Vasantrao & Arora, Jagriti, 2021. "Accounting constructs and economic consequences of IFRS adoption in India," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).

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