Quantization and Empirical Evaluation of New Measure of Accounting Quality

Abstract

Recent studies (e.g., Hribar et al 2014) suggest that audit fees have information about numerous factors such as the range and extent of audit verification, audit risk, employer dignity and overall accounting quality. Thus, by controlling the multiple factors, the residual part of audit fees can be considered as a new measure of accounting quality. The purpose of this study in the first place is quantization and in the second place is empirical evaluation of the measure. After controlling a series of factors affecting the audit fee, the absolute residual of audit fee model gives one proxy for new measure of accounting quality. For empirical evaluation, the relation between the new measure and other traditional measures (such as Jones model, modified Jones model, Dichev & dichaw model, variability of profits and income smoothing) is used. Statistical population includes all of the firms listed in Tehran stock exchange in the period from 2007 to 2014. The findings indicate a significant relation between the new measure of accounting quality and Jones and modified Jones models. However, evidence indicates no significant relation between new measure of accounting quality and other traditional measures. In sum, the evidence suggests that the new measure of accounting quality cannot capture the different dimensions of accounting quality in Iran.

Keywords

• Accounting quality
• Unexplained audit fees
• Accruals Quality
• Audit fees model
• New measure of accounting quality