Einflussfaktoren der Pr��fungshonorare �C Anmerkungen zu den Beitr?gen ?Quasirentenmodell und Honorare f��r Abschlusspr��fungen in Deutschland �C eine empirische Analyse�� und ?Pr��fungshonorare in Deutschland �C Determinanten und Implikationen��

Bigus and Zimmermann and Köhler et al. investigate various determinants of audit fees of companies that are listed on German stock exchanges using multiple linear regression analysis. While Bigus and Zimmermann identify not significant higher audit fees for initial audit engagements than for continuing audit engagements, Köhler et al. detect significant lower audit fees for initial audit engagements than for continuing audit engagements. Although the authors of both studies only investigate the fees for the audit of the German entities of the respective groups of companies, they use determinants from the prior audit fee literature that relate to the audit of the worldwide entities that are included in the groups of companies. In addition to this mismatch of the geographic scope of the variables, the authors use determinants whose influence on audit fees is not explained by theories, that have been rarely used in prior studies, or that have previously been associated with inconsistent results, and that should have been critically questioned. Given the weaknesses of the methodologies used in both studies, the gain in knowledge from their results is questionable.     

Das Erfordernis der Umsatzunabh?ngigkeit und die Konzentration auf dem deutschen Markt f��r Abschlusspr��ferleistungen

The German market for services provided by audit firms is characterised by a growing concentration over the last decades. Due to numerous scandals, an auditor is obliged to meet stricter independence regulations. An audit firm has to reject a client if it received more than 15% of its total income from the listed company to be audited at any time during the last five years and at the same time expects to receive more than 15% in the current period. It can be argued that this regulation accelerates the concentration process, while small and midsize accountants, which serve only a small number of clients, are suppressed. This analysis is based on the data of 442 Prime-Standard audits for the periods 2005, 2006 and 2007. The results show that the Big4-audit firm obtained an increasing market share in terms of clients (77% (2005), 83% (2007)) and total fees (96% (2005), 97% (2007)). Furthermore, it is noticeable, that in particular NonBig4-audit firms exceed the critical threshold of 15% during the periods under investigation. As a result hereof such firms must leave the market after five years. Hence, the German commercial code`s independence regulations may affect the audit market structure. The results suggest that an enhancement of auditor independence through income thresholds is in conflict with a reduction of market concentration. Furthermore, it can be observed that an increase in fees earned from a particular client does not impact auditor independence as long as the income threshold is not exceeded. In addition, internal auditor rotation, auditor engagement by supervisory boards, and the implementation of audit committees could also result in an increase of concentration.     

Gerechtigkeit und Arbeitskontext – Zur Bedeutung situativer Merkmale für die Gerechtigkeitswahrnehmung von Führungskr?ften

Leaders who are perceived to act with fairness can evoke desired employee behaviour in unique ways. Until now, little attention has been paid to the influence of situational factors on judging leader??s fairness in the work context. Based on the event paradigm, this study explores the formation of employee??s perception of leader??s justice in the context of work distribution through a variety of situational factors. Using a factorial survey we show that not only well-known factors such as respectful and reasonable behaviour affect the perception of leader??s fairness but also situational factors such as speech situation, trust between leader and follower, and the quality of the task.     

Replik auf Stellungnahme zu ?Pr��fungshonorare in Deutschland �C Determinanten und Implikationen��

Responding to Merkl??s discussion the authors show that Merkl??s arguments are not convincing.     

Enteignende Besteuerung durch steuerfreie Eink��nfte? �C Paradoxe Wirkungen des Progressionsvorbehalts aus theoretischer und empirischer Sicht

This paper analyzes the progression reservation (Progressionsvorbehalt) theoretically and empirically. At the beginning the historical development of the progression reservation is presented. Thereafter requirements on a systematic tax scale are defined and applied to the progression reservation. It turns out that the negative progression reservation does not meet these requirements, because marginal tax rates can occur over 100%. Moreover distortions are observed within a large range of the tax base. After this the paper presents a micro simulation on basis of individual tax statistics data from the Federal Statistical Office. As a result of this the theoretically analyzed distortions can also be found in reality.     

Wird die Relevanz von Ertragsteuern für die Unternehmensrechnung nach rechtlichen oder ökonomischen Kriterien beurteilt? Kommentar zum Beitrag von Franz W. Wagner und Reinhard Sill

Wagner/Sill investigate analytically and empirically whether income taxes are integrated in cost accounting (CA) and whether the German local business tax (LBT) is different from other income taxes from a CA perspective. Using a contribution margin model, they show that neither the LBT nor other income taxes are crucial. By contrast, the empirical study reveals that businesses and industry associations perceive the LBT quite differently. The theoretical irrelevance of income taxes is a consequence of the simplified contribution margin model. Using a multi-period cost definition would induce time effects of taxation and hence the relevance of income taxes. In the empirical analysis, it is not clear what the authors mean by “integration” of taxes and which type of CA they have in mind. Since regulation is an important issue for CA, it would be helpful to distinguish between regulated and non-regulated industries in the questionnaire.