). The findings also have implications for the (Belgian) auditing profession. For example, the fact that significant …

-based measures of earnings quality and cost of capital. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses empirical data to determine … measures for the market's perception of earnings quality and the ex-ante cost of capital. The measures for 2001 (pre-SOX) are …'s perception of earnings quality has improved, while the firms' cost of equity capital has decreased. Research limitations …

are more likely to restate earnings, thereby casting doubt on the public perception that NAS impairs auditor independence … characteristics over audit fees in predicting earnings management. …

auditing (COA) prior to and after the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act and assesses the current value relevance of continuous auditing … primary dependent variables used were investors' assessment of firm risk and investors' assessment of earnings per share …

legislation opposed by the industry did not affect earnings growth relative to industries not subject to regulatory legislation …. Legislation supported by the industry led to slower relative earnings growth. Union wage differentials increased in industries … with legislation regardless of industry opposition or support. Relative earnings declined among non-union workers in …