We examine the issue of auditor independence in a unique setting. Specifically, we test for auditor independence impairment among (1) private client firms, for which the risk of auditor reputation loss is lower than for publicly traded firms, and (2) in a low litigation environment (i.e.,...

This paper employs unique and confidential data on audit partners' wealth and audit related variables for a very large sample of firms in a setting where the auditors' risk of litigation and loss of reputation is low. We analyze the relationship between audit quality and audit fees at the...

In this chapter we highlight the differences between audits of private and public companies and review and synthesize the available empirical evidence, which is sparse in comparison to what is available for public companies. The evidence is fragmented and more research is needed in order to...

Are audit partners rewarded for the revenues they generate by selling consulting services? The question is relevant because of the concern that audit firms have focused on consulting services that are more lucrative and have higher margins than auditing, and that the profit orientation may have...

Although a large proportion of firms are family owned and most family firms are private, our understanding of private family firms is limited. Using confidential information on family relationship between board members, CEOs, and shareholders, this is the first study that provides large-scale...