| Practice area: | Finance | Financial markets and Institutions |
|---|---|
| Client: | EC DG Internal Market and Services |
| Published: | September, 2006 |
| Keywords: | qualitative analysis quantitative analysis stakeholder surveys and consultations |
This study focuses on the market for statutory audits of large companies in Europe. It reviews first the state of the international market for audit firms in the EU. Next, it examines the insurance market for statutory audits. It then examines the likely short-run and long-run effects of the possible disappearance of one or more of the Big-4 firms. Next, it focuses on the economic impact of alternative auditor liability regimes. Finally, it reviews and assesses different options for limiting auditors’ liability.