Differential Pricing on Auditors' Initial Engagements: Further Evidence.
研究了审计师对首次承接客户是否收取更低费用，发现1982-1984年间新客户审计费显著低于续约客户，且该差异持续到第二年，在转向大所和小所时均存在，甚至出现在相对不盈利公司的首次审计中。
Abstract This research examines the "price cutting" issue to determine whether auditing firms differentially price the audits of new clients, as suggested by the results of a recent study by Simon and Francis [1988]. Evidence presented here indicates the existence of a negative price differential on initial engagements during the 1982-1984 time period. In particular, auditing fees for new clients are found to be significantly lower than those for continuing engagements when controlling for the influence of other audit fee determinants. Additional tests indicate that this differential persists into the second year following a change in auditor, occurs in "switches" to both Big Eight and smaller-sized auditing firms, and occurs even on initial audits of relatively unprofitable companies.