Market competition and audit quality in distribution and service industries

Abstract

Purpose - This paper examines whether product market competition in distribution and service industries is related to audit quality. This paper investigates, specifically, the relationship in distribution and service industries by using Herfindahl-Hirschman Index and audit quality measured by audit fee and audit hour. Research design, data, and methodology - Using 1,011 firm-year observations of listed companies from 2002 to 2016 in distribution and service industries, this study examines whether product market competition in distribution and service industries is related to audit quality. Results - This study finds that market competition in distribution and service industries is negatively related to audit quality and this negative relation is pronounced for the firms with high outside director groups. Further analysis suggests that the relationship between market competition and audit hours is no longer significant. Conclusions - This study extended the existing scope of the audit quality study by systematically analyzing the impact of industrial-level characteristics (i.e. market competition) in the distribution service industries on audit quality. This study, in other words, suggests the regulatory body consider the industrial-level characteristics of each industry in order to enhance audit quality. © 2019, Korea Distribution Science Association (KODISA).