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The pricing of audit services: The Canadian perspective

Author

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  • DENNIS Y. CHUNG
  • W. DARYL LINDSAY

Abstract

. The pricing of audit services is a complex function of many variables. Prior research in this area has proposed various approaches and models to identify some of these factors. This paper includes a description of one such model. Studies based on this model, or modifications of it, have been performed in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and the U.K. This paper reports the findings of a similar study conducted in Canada. The analysis indicates that an approximately linear relationship exists between audit fee and a company's total assets or sales. In addition, the number of subsidiaries and the level of inventory are statistically significant determinants of audit fee in the Canadian setting. The extent of foreign assets was also a significant determinant of audit fee for large companies, while the amount of receivables was found to be a significant determinant of audit fee for small companies. The findings are compared with those reported previously for different countries and the result of a test for price competition in the Canadian audit market is also discussed. Résumé. L'établissement du prix des services de vérification est une fonction complexe faisant intervenir de nombreuses variables. Les travaux de recherche précédents dans ce domaine ont débouché sur diverses méthodes et divers modèles destinés à cerner certains de ces facteurs. Les auteurs s'en tiennent à l'un de ces modèles qu'ils prennent soin de décrire. Des études fondées sur ce modèle, ou sur une version adaptée du modèle, ont été effectuées aux États†Unis, en Australie, en Nouvelle†Zélande et au Royaume†Uni. Les auteurs font état des résultats d'une étude semblable menée au Canada. L'analyse révèle qu'une relation à peu près linéaire existe entre les honoraires de vérification et l'actif total ou le chiffre d'affaires d'une société. De plus, le nombre de filiales et le niveau des stocks sont des déterminants statistiquement significatifs des honoraires de vérification dans le contexte canadien. L'importance de l'actif à l'étranger est également un déterminant significatif des honoraires de vérification pour les grandes entreprises, tandis que le montant des comptes clients est un déterminant significatif des hororaires de vérification pour les petites entreprises. Les auteurs comparent ces résultats aux résultats précédemment obtenus pour différents pays et traitent du résultat d'un contrôle relatif à la concurrence sur les prix dans le marché canadien de la vérification.

Suggested Citation

  • Dennis Y. Chung & W. Daryl Lindsay, 1988. "The pricing of audit services: The Canadian perspective," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 5(1), pages 19-46, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:5:y:1988:i:1:p:19-46
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1988.tb00693.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Palmrose, Zv, 1986. "Audit Fees And Auditor Size - Further Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(1), pages 97-110.
    2. Simunic, Da, 1980. "The Pricing Of Audit Services - Theory And Evidence," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(1), pages 161-190.
    3. Francis, Jere R., 1984. "The effect of audit firm size on audit prices : A study of the Australian Market," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 133-151, August.
    4. DeAngelo, Linda Elizabeth, 1981. "Auditor independence, `low balling', and disclosure regulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 113-127, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Laurence Kranich & Andrés Perea & Hans Peters, 2005. "Core Concepts For Dynamic Tu Games," International Game Theory Review (IGTR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(01), pages 43-61.
    2. Schelleman, C.C.M., 2001. "Determinants of the profitability of audit engagements : an empirical study," Research Memorandum 037, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    3. Markus Widmann & Florian Follert & Matthias Wolz, 2021. "On the Political Decision of Audit Market Regulation: Empirical Evidence of Audit Firm Tenure and Maximum Durations within the European Union," Economies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-24, May.
    4. Fargher, Neil & Taylor, Mark H. & Simon, Daniel T., 2001. "The demand for auditor reputation across international markets for audit services," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 407-421, 012.
    5. Jaggi, Bikki & Low, Pek Yee, 2011. "Joint Effect of Investor Protection and Securities Regulations on Audit Fees," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 241-270, September.
    6. Herings, P.J.J. & Kubler, F., 2000. "Computing equilibria in finance economies," Research Memorandum 022, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    7. Taylor, Mark H. & Simon, Daniel T., 1999. "Determinants of audit fees: the importance of litigation, disclosure, and regulatory burdens in audit engagements in 20 countries," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 375-388, August.
    8. Callaghan, Joseph H. & Parkash, Mohinder & Singhal, Rajeev, 2008. "The impact of the Multi-jurisdiction Disclosure System on audit fees of cross-listed Canadian firms," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 99-113.
    9. Jong†Hag Choi & T. J. Wong, 2007. "Auditors' Governance Functions and Legal Environments: An International Investigation," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(1), pages 13-46, March.
    10. Oana Raluca Ivan, 2011. "Audit Fee Econometrical Models An Overview Of The Auditing Research Literature," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(13), pages 1-20.
    11. Win Lin Chou & Dominica Suk‐Yee Lee, 2003. "Cointegration Analysis of Audit Pricing Model: A Panel Unit Root Test Approach," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7‐8), pages 1141-1164, September.
    12. Vivien Beattie & Alan Goodacre & Ken Pratt & Joanna Stevenson, 2001. "The determinants of audit fees—evidence from the voluntary sector," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 243-274.
    13. Willekens, Marleen & Achmadi, Christina, 2003. "Pricing and supplier concentration in the private client segment of the audit market: Market power or competition?," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 431-455.
    14. Mansour Saaydah, 2021. "Factors Causing Discretionary Auditor Change in the Insurance Industry: Evidence from Jordan," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(2), pages 344-362.
    15. David C. Hay & W. Robert Knechel & Norman Wong, 2006. "Audit Fees: A Meta†analysis of the Effect of Supply and Demand Attributes," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(1), pages 141-191, March.
    16. Sorin Romulus Berinde & Adrian GroÅŸanu, 2013. "Particularities Concerning The Beneficiaries Of Audit Services Provided By The Big 4 Companies: Evidence From Romania," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(15), pages 1-14.
    17. Niemi, Lasse, 2005. "Audit effort and fees under concentrated client ownership: Evidence from four international audit firms," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 303-323.
    18. Ghosh, Saibal, 2007. "External Auditing, Managerial Monitoring and Firm Valuation: An Empirical Analysis for India," MPRA Paper 17142, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Schelleman, C.C.M. & Maijoor, S.J., 2000. "Benchmarking the production of audit services: an efficiency frontier approach," Research Memorandum 055, Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR).
    20. Markus Widmann & Florian Follert & Matthias Wolz, 2021. "What is it going to cost? Empirical evidence from a systematic literature review of audit fee determinants," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 455-489, April.

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