We examine the “confirmation” hypothesis, that audited, backward-looking financial outcomes and disclosure of managers' private forward-looking information are complements, because independent audit disciplines and hence enhances disclosure credibility. Committing to higher audit fees (a...

We examine the 'confirmation' hypothesis that audited financial reporting and disclosure of managers' private information are complements, because independent verification of outcomes disciplines and hence enhances disclosure credibility. Committing to higher audit fees (a measure of financial...

This essay was a Keynote Address at the Third International Conference of the Journal of International Accounting Research in São Paulo Brazil. It addresses the question of why the volume and quality of international accounting research have grown rapidly in recent years. It begins by asking...