Audit quality in ASEAN region: some efforts and comparisons

Abstract

Abstract. This paper discusses how Asian economies are responding to the increased global attention on audit quality (AQ) issues. It shows some of the efforts taken by the countries collectively as a region; as well as individual countries' measures. The data is obtained from various reports available in public domain including the information available on various relevant websites. The discussion shows how Asian countries are working through an informal organization they established, called the ASEAN Audit Regulators Group (AARG) in enhancing AQ. Comparison among five ASEAN countries shows variations in term of how much each country has progressed with respect to their efforts in straightening AQ. Some countries are more advanced than the other. This paper contributes to the literature on audit quality by providing insights into how ASEAN as a region responded to the global demand on improving AQ and the gaps in auditing literature on comparative progress of these nations.