The Impact of Smog Pollution on Audit Quality: Evidence from China

Abstract

Audit quality usually refers to the quality that the auditing services accounting firm auditors provide to an enterprise in the form of an audit report. This study empirically analyzes the impact mechanism of smog pollution on audit quality, based on the data of A-share listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges during the period 2013 to 2017 and the air quality monitoring data released by the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre covering the period 2013 to 2018. First, the empirical results show that smog pollution can lead to a decline in audit quality. Second, audit time plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between smog pollution and audit quality. Further analysis indicates that the negative impact of smog pollution on audit quality and the intermediary role played by audit time are only significant in the sample of “top 10” accounting firms. Third, the enterprise′s internal control level positively moderates the mediating effect of audit time on smog pollution and audit quality.

Seasonal affective disorder and audit quality

“…In the context of auditing, Li, Zhou, et al (2021) advocate the productivity theory and argue that unpleasant circumstances that negatively affect an auditor's mood will hurt productivity. In particular, the authors argue that auditors will be less motivated to use due diligence when performing the audit.…”

Smog Pollution, Environmental Uncertainty, and Operating Investment

“…In aspect of other aspects in operation, smog can impact company from inside, and have significant influence on total factor productivity [41] and cash holdings [42]. In addition, smog can also impact company from outside, and influence the market value of firms [43,44] and the audit quality of auditors [45]. For an organization, environmental uncertainty is manifested by the inability to determine how the environment may change and make decisions accordingly.…”