An important aim of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) was to reduce cost of capital by enhancing auditor independence. However, prior literature has argued that SOX has been ineffective in meeting this objective. We contribute to this debate by first providing evidence suggesting that auditor...

At the level of public discourse the debate surrounding European sovereign debt crises has become polarised between the need for greater levels of public spending cuts and privatisation (‘austerity') and the need to use government investment or reductions in regulatory policies to bring about...

The International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions, cognisant of the complexity of sovereign debt issues, suggests that sufficient technical knowledge is essential in undertaking an audit. Quality public debt management audits require an understanding of the uncertain macroeconomy,...