审计师-客户公司的地理邻近性与会计稳健性

发布时间：2018-08-22 14:52

【摘要】：近年来,相关研究发现地理区位特征是影响经济主体行为决策及其后果的重要因素。在审计实践中,有些上市公司倾向于聘请地理邻近的本地会计师事务所提供审计服务,而有些上市公司却喜欢"舍近求远"聘请外地会计师事务所提供审计服务。这个现象说明,审计师的地理区位特征很可能是影响上市公司与审计师间交互行为的一个重要潜在因素。基于客户公司会计稳健性的视角,以地理经济学相关理论为支撑,探讨审计师的地理区位特征对审计师审计行为的影响,进而检验对客户公司会计稳健性的影响。综合考虑中国关系型社会和法制不健全的转型经济背景,研究审计师与客户公司间地理距离对客户公司会计稳健性的影响。利用2004年至2014年中国A股上市公司的13 624个年度观察数据为研究样本,使用OLS、工具变量的2SLS、Petersen所采用的稳健回归等多元回归分析方法进行实证检验。研究结果表明,(1)审计师-客户公司地理距离越近,客户公司的会计稳健性越低,即地理邻近性降低了客户公司的会计稳健性;(2)与国际四大相比,非国际四大审计师与客户公司间的地理邻近性对客户公司会计稳健性的消极影响显著更强;(3)相对于监管强度高的地区,审计师-客户公司的地理邻近性对会计稳健性的消极影响在监管强度低的地区表现得更强。此外,对内生性、计量估计模型、主要变量度量方法和样本筛选等问题进行的稳健性检验结果表明,上述研究结论稳健成立。审计师的地理邻近性会降低客户公司的会计稳健性,因为地理邻近性会特别损害会计稳健性所依赖的外部审计的独立性,而良好的审计师声誉和外部监管环境则有利于在一定程度上缓解审计师的地理邻近性对客户公司会计稳健性的不利影响。相关结果加深了对审计师行为动机及其后果的理解,对审计师在审计本地客户时加强独立性、监管机构加强针对性的监管以及完善各种内外部治理机制都具有重要的政策启示意义。
[Abstract]:In recent years, relevant studies have found that geographical location is an important factor that affects economic subjects' behavior decision and its consequences. In audit practice, some listed companies tend to employ local accounting firms with geographical proximity to provide audit services, while some listed companies prefer to hire foreign accounting firms to provide audit services. This phenomenon suggests that the geographical location of auditors may be an important potential factor affecting the interaction between listed companies and auditors. Based on the perspective of accounting conservatism of customer company, this paper discusses the influence of auditor's geographical location on auditor's audit behavior, and then tests the influence of auditor's accounting conservatism on customer's accounting conservatism. Considering the economic background of China's relationship society and imperfect legal system, this paper studies the influence of the geographical distance between auditor and client company on the accounting conservatism of customer company. Using 13,624 annual observation data of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2004 to 2014 as the research sample, using the robust regression and other multiple regression analysis method used by OLS and the tool variable 2SLSN Petersen. The results show that (1) the closer the geographic distance between auditor and customer, the lower the accounting conservatism of client companies, that is, geographical proximity reduces the accounting conservatism of client companies; (2) compared with the four major companies in the world, The geographical proximity between non-international auditors and client firms has significantly more negative impact on accounting conservatism of client companies; (3) relative to regions with high regulatory intensity, The negative impact of auditors-client firms' geographical proximity on accounting conservatism is stronger in less regulated areas. In addition, the robustness test results of endogeneity, econometric estimation model, main variable measurement methods and sample selection show that the above conclusions are robust. Auditors' geographical proximity reduces the accounting conservatism of client companies, because geographical proximity particularly undermines the independence of the external audit on which accounting conservatism depends. Good auditor reputation and external regulatory environment will help to alleviate the adverse impact of auditors' geographical proximity on the accounting conservatism of client companies to a certain extent. The results enhance the understanding of the auditor's motivation and its consequences, and enhance the auditor's independence in auditing local clients. It is of great significance for regulators to strengthen targeted supervision and perfect various internal and external governance mechanisms.
【作者单位】：厦门大学管理学院;
【基金】：国家自然科学基金(71202061,71572160)~~
【分类号】：F275

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