The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Audit and Financial Reporting Quality: A Case Study of the Emerging Market of Iran

Authors

  • Seyed Reza Seyed Nezhad Fahim * Department of Accounting, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3166-323X
  • Fatemeh Gholami Golsefid Department of Mathematics, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22105/aaa.v1i1.30

Abstract

This research focuses on the role that Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU) plays in creating adverse effects on the quality of financial information and the profitability of firms, with an emphasis on identifying the relationships and effects thereof on Audit Quality (AQ) and Financial Reporting Quality (FRQ) to achieve a proper understanding by financial statement users. Therefore, the objective of this research is to examine the relationship between EPU, AQ, and FRQ. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the research hypotheses. The statistical population consisted of 110 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2013-2022 (1100 observations). EPU was tested using two indicators: inflation rate changes and exchange rate changes. The research results indicate a significant positive relationship between EPU based on the inflation rate changes index, AQ, and FRQ. However, the results show no significant relationship between EPU based on the exchange rate changes index, AQ, and FRQ.

Keywords:

Economic policy uncertainty, audit quality, financial reporting quality

References

  1. [1] Akhgar, M. O., Sajjadi, Z., & Rasouli Kurdistan, N. (2023). Economic Policy uncertainty and firm adoption: the role of product market competition, financial frictions, and financialization. Accounting and auditing reviews, 30(114), 614-658. (In Persian). https://elmnet.ir/doc/2733149-69112?elm_num=1

  2. [2] Watts, R., & J. Zimmerman. (1981). The market for Independence and independent auditors. Center for research in governement policy & business.

  3. [3] Bae, S. H., Jeong, S. W., & Park, J. I. (2014). The associations among auditors’ abnormal audit fees, industry expertise, and discretionary accruals. Korean accounting journal, 23(2), 143–190.

  4. [4] Lee, H., & Jeong, S. W. T. (2024). Economic policy uncertainty, audit quality, and earnings manipulation. Asia-pacific journal of accounting & economics, 31(2), 269–299. https://doi.org/10.1080/16081625.2023.2228836

  5. [5] Çolak, G., Durnev, A., & Qian, Y. (2017). Political uncertainty and IPO activity: evidence from U.S. gubernatorial elections. Journal of financial and quantitative analysis, 52(6), 2523–2564. DOI:10.1017/S0022109017000862

  6. [6] Col, B., Durnev, A., & Molchanov, A. (2018). Foreign risk, domestic problem: capital allocation and firm performance under political instability. Management science, 64(5), 2102–2125. https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2638

  7. [7] Gulen, H., & Ion, M. (2015). Policy uncertainty and corporate investment. The review of financial studies, 29(3), 523–564. https://doi.org/10.1093/rfs/hhv050

  8. [8] Julio, B., & Yook, Y. (2012). Political Uncertainty and corporate investment cycles. The journal of finance, 67(1), 45–83. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1540-6261.2011.01707.x

  9. [9] Bonaime, A., Gulen, H., & Ion, M. (2018). Does policy uncertainty affect mergers and acquisitions? Journal of financial economics, 129(3), 531–558. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304405X18301338

  10. [10] Yung, K., & Root, A. (2019). Policy uncertainty and earnings management: international evidence. Journal of business research, 100, 255–267. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296319302413

  11. [11] Nagar, V., Schoenfeld, J., & Wellman, L. (2019). The effect of economic policy uncertainty on investor information asymmetry and management disclosures. Journal of accounting and economics, 67(1), 36–57. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165410118300958

  12. [12] Becker, C. L., Defond, M. L., Jiambalvo, J., & Subramanyam, K. R. (1998). The effect of audit quality on earnings management. Contemporary accounting research, 15(1), 1–24. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1911-3846.1998.tb00547.x

  13. [13] Heninger, W. G. (2001). The association between auditor litigation and abnormal accruals. The accounting review, 76(1), 111–126. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2001.76.1.111

  14. [14] Shahmoradi, N., & Tabatabaienasab, Z. (2021). The effect of audit quality on the relationship between economic uncertainty and accrual based earnings management in listed companies in tehran stock exchange. Financial accounting research, 13(1), 67-86. (In Persian). https://far.ui.ac.ir/article_25426.html

  15. [15] El Ghoul, S., Guedhami, O., Kim, Y., & Yoon, H. J. (2021). Policy uncertainty and accounting quality. The accounting review, 96(4), 233–260. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2018-0057

  16. [16] Xu, Z. (2020). Economic policy uncertainty, cost of capital, and corporate innovation. Journal of banking & finance, 111, 105698. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378426619302729

  17. [17] Dechow, P. M., & Dichev, I. D. (2002). The Quality of accruals and earnings: the role of accrual estimation errors. The accounting review, 77(s-1), 35–59. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2002.77.s-1.35

  18. [18] Dechow, P. M., Sloan, R. G., & Sweeney, A. P. (1995). Detecting earnings management. Accounting review, 70, 193–225. https://www.jstor.org/stable/248303

  19. [19] Francis, J., LaFond, R., Olsson, P., & Schipper, K. (2005). The market pricing of accruals quality. Journal of accounting and economics, 39(2), 295–327. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016541010500025X

  20. [20] Jones, J. J. (1991). Earnings management during import relief investigations. Journal of accounting research, 29(2), 193–228. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2491047

  21. [21] Roychowdhury, S. (2006). Earnings management through real activities manipulation. Journal of accounting and economics, 42(3), 335–370. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165410106000401

  22. [22] Zhang, M., Xu, H., Tong, L., & Ye, T. (2018). International evidence on economic policy uncertainty and asymmetric adjustment of audit pricing: big four versus non-big four auditors. Journal of business finance & accounting, 45(5–6), 728–756. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jbfa.12299

  23. [23] Yun, Y., & Chun, H. (2021). Economic policy uncertainty and audit effort: evidence from audit hours. Managerial auditing journal, 36(4), 643–662. https://doi.org/10.1108/MAJ-08-2020-2808

  24. [24] Hillegeist, S. A. (1999). Financial reporting and auditing under alternative damage apportionment rules. The accounting review, 74(3), 347–369. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.1999.74.3.347

  25. [25] Caramanis, C., & Lennox, C. (2008). Audit effort and earnings management. Journal of accounting and economics, 45(1), 116–138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165410107000432

  26. [26] Nelson, M. W., Elliott, J. A., & Tarpley, R. L. (2002). Evidence from auditors about managers’ and auditors’ earnings management decisions. The accounting review, 77(s-1), 175–202. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2002.77.s-1.175

  27. [27] Kinney Jr, W. R., & Martin, R. D. (1994). Does auditing reduce bias in financial reporting? A review of audit-related adjustment studies. Auditing, 13(1), 149-156. https://search.proquest.com/openview/88de1645b310ac3c593a84e2d5e40253/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=31718

  28. [28] Beaver, W. H., & Ryan, S. G. (1993). Accounting fundamentals of the book-to-market ratio. Financial analysts journal, 49(6), 50–56. https://doi.org/10.2469/faj.v49.n6.50

  29. [29] Ball, R., Kothari, S. P., & Watts, R. L. (1993). Economic determinants of the relation between earnings changes and stock returns. The accounting review, 68(3), 622–638. http://www.jstor.org/stable/248205

  30. [30] DeAngelo, L. E. (1981). Auditor independence, ‘low balling’, and disclosure regulation. Journal of accounting and economics, 3(2), 113–127. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0165410181900094

  31. [31] Rezaei, Z., & Kayani, F. (2021). Investigating the effect of economic uncertainty on the relationship between the comparability of financial statements and the reduction of stock prices in Tehran Stock Exchange. Journal of financial and investment developments, 2(4), 1-6. (In Persian). https://elmnet.ir/doc/2480661-80154?elm_num=2

  32. [32] Kothari, S. P., Leone, A. J., & Wasley, C. E. (2005). Performance matched discretionary accrual measures. Journal of accounting and economics, 39(1), 163–197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2004.11.002

  33. [33] Cheng, M., & Sutunyarak, C. (2023). Impact of Economic policy uncertainty on audit fees: evidence from chinese listed companies. Problems and perspectives in management, 21(3), 682–697. DOI:10.21511/ppm.21(3).2023.53

  34. [34] Kim, H., & Yasuda, Y. (2021). Economic policy uncertainty and earnings management: evidence from Japan. Journal of financial stability, 56, 100925. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1572308921000851

  35. [35] Watts, R. L., & Zimmerman, J. L. (1978). Towards a positive theory of the determination of accounting standards. The accounting review, 53(1), 112–134. http://www.jstor.org/stable/245729

  36. [36] Pouresmaeil Motlagh, B., & Mohtasham, A. (2024). Measuring brand performance in the petrochemical industry with the approach of improving financial performance. Financial and banking strategic studies, 1(4), 216–232. (In Persian). https://www.journal-fbs.com/article_193658.html

  37. [37] Khalilian, B. (2023). Lack of financial reporting transparency, audit quality, risk of stock fall. Financial and banking strategic studies, 1(2), 93–105. (In Persian). https://www.journal-fbs.com/article_178953.html

  38. [38] Shemshad, A. (2023). Financial distress and audit fees: new evidence of the role of firm size. Innovation management and operational strategies, 4(4), 355–368. (In Persian).

  39. [39] http://www.journal-imos.ir/article_192868.html

Published

2024-05-27

How to Cite

Seyed Nezhad Fahim, S. R., & Gholami Golsefid, F. (2024). The Effect of Economic Policy Uncertainty on Audit and Financial Reporting Quality: A Case Study of the Emerging Market of Iran. Accounting and Auditing With Applications , 1(1), 36-45. https://doi.org/10.22105/aaa.v1i1.30

Similar Articles

1-10 of 20

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.