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The value of Big 4 audits in Australia

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  • Masoud Azizkhani
  • Gary S. Monroe
  • Greg Shailer

Abstract

Research suggests that equity markets value Big N audits over non‐Big N audits. Explanations include the information quality hypothesis, whereby Big N auditors increase information quality, and the insurance hypothesis, whereby investors value the deeper pockets of Big N auditors. Using client firms’ex ante cost of capital as the dependent variable, we investigate whether capital market participants differentially value Big 4 versus non‐Big 4 audits in Australia and whether the value of Big 4 audits in Australia changed as a result of the audit failures of 2001–2002. We find that Big 4 audits reduce the ex ante cost of equity capital until 2001, but not after 2001. We cannot dismiss the insurance hypothesis for the persistence of the loss beyond 2003 because of the establishment of liability caps, but the demise of the Big 4 audit value for 2001–2003 is consistent with the information quality hypothesis and does not support the insurance hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Masoud Azizkhani & Gary S. Monroe & Greg Shailer, 2010. "The value of Big 4 audits in Australia," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 50(4), pages 743-766, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:50:y:2010:i:4:p:743-766
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-629X.2010.00346.x
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    2. Joshy,Jacob & Desai, Naman & Agarwalla, Sobhesh Kumar, 2015. "Are Big 4 Audit Fee Premiums Always Related to Superior Audit Quality? Evidence from India’s Unique Audit Market," IIMA Working Papers WP2015-03-10, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    3. Hasan, Mostafa Monzur & Hossain, Mahmud & Cheung, Adrian (Wai-Kong) & Habib, Ahsan, 2015. "Corporate life cycle and cost of equity capital," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(1), pages 46-60.
    4. Le, Ha Thi Thu & Tran, Ha Giang & Vo, Xuan Vinh, 2021. "Audit quality, accruals quality and the cost of equity in an emerging market: Evidence from Vietnam," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    5. Detthamrong, Umawadee & Chancharat, Nongnit & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2017. "Corporate governance, capital structure and firm performance: Evidence from Thailand," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 689-709.
    6. Wan Nordin Wan-Hussin & Ameen Qasem & Norhani Aripin & Mohd Shazwan Mohd Ariffin, 2021. "Corporate Responsibility Disclosure, Information Environment and Analysts’ Recommendations: Evidence from Malaysia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, March.
    7. Munisi, Gibson & Randøy, Trond, 2013. "Corporate governance and company performance across Sub-Saharan African countries," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 92-110.
    8. Kalelkar, Rachana, 2016. "Audit committee diligence around initial audit engagement," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 59-67.

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