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Cross†Country Evidence on the Importance of Auditor Choice to Corporate Debt Maturity

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  • Sadok El Ghoul
  • Omrane Guedhami
  • Jeffrey A. Pittman
  • Sorin Rizeanu

Abstract

We examine the importance of Big Four audits in reducing agency costs evident in corporate debt maturity worldwide. Analyzing a large sample of public firms from 42 countries reveals that the fraction of long†term debt in firms' capital structures rises with the presence of a Big Four auditor, suggesting that higher†quality audits substitute for short†term debt for monitoring purposes. In additional analyses, we find that the role that auditor choice plays in debt maturity is concentrated in firms from countries with strong legal institutions governing property rights and creditor rights. Collectively, our research implies that Big Four audits matter to corporate debt maturity, although the impact is isolated in firms operating in countries with more protective legal regimes.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Jeffrey A. Pittman & Sorin Rizeanu, 2016. "Cross†Country Evidence on the Importance of Auditor Choice to Corporate Debt Maturity," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(2), pages 718-751, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:33:y:2016:i:2:p:718-751
    DOI: 10.1111/1911-3846.12168
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    Cited by:

    1. Kashefi Pour, Eilnaz & Lasfer, Meziane, 2019. "Taxes, governance, and debt maturity structure: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 136-161.
    2. Nguyen, Lily & Vu, Le & Yin, Xiangkang, 2020. "The undesirable effect of audit quality: Evidence from firm innovation," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 52(6).
    3. Oleh Pasko, 2017. "Perception of Accounting and Auditing Standards by Users in Context of Formation of Institutional Openness in Regulation," Oblik i finansi, Institute of Accounting and Finance, issue 1, pages 68-75, March.
    4. Nguyen, Van Ha & Choi, Bobae & Agbola, Frank W., 2020. "Corporate social responsibility and debt maturity: Australian evidence," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Feito-Ruiz, Isabel & Menéndez-Requejo, Susana, 2022. "Debt maturity in family firms: Heterogeneity across countries," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    6. Bolortuya Enkhtaivan & Wenling Lu, 2021. "The effect of TARP on lending: Evidence from the lead bank’s share in syndicated loans," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1169-1193, November.
    7. Pappas, Kostas & Walsh, Eamonn & Xu, Alice Liang, 2019. "Real earnings management and loan contract terms," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 373-401.
    8. Mansi, Sattar A. & Qi, Yaxuan & Wald, John K., 2021. "Bond covenants, bankruptcy risk, and the cost of debt," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    9. Jeong-Bon Kim & Mikhail Pevzner & Xiangang Xin, 2019. "Foreign institutional ownership and auditor choice: Evidence from worldwide institutional ownership," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 50(1), pages 83-110, February.
    10. Ole‐Kristian Hope & Heng Yue & Qinlin Zhong, 2020. "China's Anti‐Corruption Campaign and Financial Reporting Quality†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 1015-1043, June.
    11. Allaya, Manel & Derouiche, Imen & Muessig, Anke, 2022. "Voluntary disclosure, ownership structure, and corporate debt maturity: A study of French listed firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    12. Hassan, M. Kabir & Karim, Md. Sydul & Kozlowski, Steven E., 2022. "Implications of public corruption for local firms: Evidence from corporate debt maturity," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    13. L ' Effet & Yao Maurice & Yves Mard & Éric Séverin, 2020. "The Effect of Earnings Management on Debt Maturity: An International Study," Post-Print hal-03029366, HAL.
    14. Cheng, Xin & (Helen) Wang, He & Wang, Xianjue, 2022. "Common institutional ownership and corporate social responsibility," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    15. Wu, Julia Yonghua & Opare, Solomon & Bhuiyan, Md. Borhan Uddin & Habib, Ahsan, 2022. "Determinants and consequences of debt maturity structure: A systematic review of the international literature," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    16. Ghada Tayem, 2023. "Debt Maturity and Institutions: Does Creditor Protection Matter?," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.

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