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Audit Services and Fees of Large Accounting Firms

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  • Bala V. Balachandran
  • Daniel Simon

Abstract

In the audit literature, it was postulated that audit firms are differentiated due to their quality and, thus, the fees charged are a function of quality. We hypothesize that this may lead to audit firm specialization in different amounts of auditing, leading to a differential audit fee structure. This hypothesis is empirically tested by using a very large sample of audit fees paid to then Big Eight auditors. The results are consistent with the hypothesis in that three Big Eight auditors are observed to charge significantly different fees when compared with the other firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Bala V. Balachandran & Daniel Simon, 1993. "Audit Services and Fees of Large Accounting Firms," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(3), pages 339-348, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:2:y:1993:i:3:p:339-348
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1430-9134.1993.00339.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, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(1), pages 97-110.
    2. Francis, Jr & Stokes, Dj, 1986. "Audit Prices, Product Differentiation, And Scale Economies - Further Evidence From The Australian Market," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(2), pages 383-393.
    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. Dye, Ra & Balachandran, Bv & Magee, Rp, 1990. "Contingent Fees For Audit Firms," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 239-266.
    5. Balachandran, Bv & Ramakrishnan, Rts, 1987. "A Theory Of Audit Partnerships - Audit Firm Size And Fees," Journal of Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 25(1), pages 111-126.
    6. Kinney, William Jr., 1986. "Audit technology and preferences for auditing standards," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 73-89, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.

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