The Removal of a Specialist Oversight Body for Local Public Audit: Insights from the Health Service in England
研究了英格兰和威尔士废除审计委员会后，卫生服务基金信托的审计市场变化，发现四大会计师事务所收取溢价，而专业公共审计师的存在则带来费用折扣，新制度下审计质量保障降低。
Abstract The abolition of the Audit Commission in England and Wales removes the ‘protector of the public purse’. The oversight body and its audit practice are largely replaced by the private sector regime and audit firms. We analyse the audit market for health service foundation trusts, an area of local public audit that operates without oversight from the Commission. We find evidence of premiums paid to some Big4 firms and that the presence of specialist public service auditors results in fee discounts. The firms limit their liability and assurance of audit quality is reduced under new audit regimes and governance structures.