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Journal of Accounting and Economics Vol. 46 No. 1 2008

State ownership, the institutional environment, and auditor choice: Evidence from China

Qian Wang1; T. J. Wong1; Lijun Xia2

1 Chinese University of Hong Kong · 2 Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

Abstract

This paper finds that compared with non-state-owned firms, Chinese state-owned enterprises controlled by province, city, and county governments (local SOEs) are more likely to hire small auditors within the same region (small local auditors). In regions with less developed institutions, SOEs controlled by central government (central SOEs) also have such a tendency. However, the tendency of local and central SOEs to hire small local auditors is attenuated as the institutions develop. This auditor choice pattern is likely to be explained by SOEs’ lack of demand for large or non-local auditors, small local auditors’ superior local knowledge, and SOEs’ collusion incentives.

DOI
10.1016/j.jacceco.2008.04.001
Volume
46
Issue
1
Pages
112-134
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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