We examine the heterogeneity of experts in a credence goods setting. In our analytical model, clients are ex ante uncertain about how much effort experts need to provide to solve their problem, which is either simple or difficult. Experts have varying degrees of expertise. Less qualified experts...

In this paper we investigate why auditors fail to report material weaknesses in internal controls (ICMWs) in advance of misstated audited financial statements. To address this question, we analyze Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) proprietary data on audit clients' internal...

Using proprietary PCAOB data on audit firms' internal inspection programs, we study the effect of audit firm internal governance on auditor behavior and financial reporting quality. Internal inspection programs are an important quality control mechanism within large audit firms. We find that...

We examine the disclosure policies of non-unionized firms operating in unionized industries. We test the hypothesis that non-unionized firms have an incentive to disclose more information when their unionized rivals are engaged in labor renegotiations; that is, to weaken them. We find that...

Using proprietary data, we analyze how a variety of audit composition and team characteristics are associated with audit effectiveness and efficiency. We find that more time allocated prior to the final phase of the audit is associated with more effective audits. We also decompose the time...

Kallunki, Kallunki, Niemi, and Nilsson (2018, hereafter KKNN) obtain a comprehensive dataset of cognitive abilities (i.e., intelligence quotient or IQ) for 407 male audit partners in Sweden. They find negative associations between partner IQ and the propensity to make errors in the issuance of...

This study investigates the impact on auditors' and clients' activities of Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) inspections of individual engagements. I find that both auditors and clients react to a Part I Finding, which identifies audit deficiencies on their inspected engagements....

We examine whether auditor regulatory oversight affects the value of financial statement audits. Using the PCAOB international inspection program as a setting to generate within country variation in regulatory oversight, we find that non-U.S. auditors inspected by the PCAOB gain 4 to 6% market...