The Duration of the Adjustment Process of Financial Ratios.

Are financial ratios an observed quantity that is influenced by firms or capital and product markets? The current body of empirical research concentrates on the time series behavior of such ratios when corporate distress is revealed. In this study the time series properties of joint-concern firms is examined. It is shown that for six financial ratios under examination, the data are consistent with partial adjustment process with finite adjustment durations. These durations are estimated through a methodology that does not require an a priori knowledge of the level toward which ratios are adjusted. Furthermore, the order of the six discerned durations is consistent with common wisdom. Copyright 1989 by MIT Press.

Information uncertainty and auditor reputation

This paper explores the relationship between information uncertainty and auditor reputation revealed by the failure of Arthur Andersen (AA). AA's reputation deteriorated considerably when it announced on January 10, 2002, that it had shredded documents related to its audit of Enron. AA's demise was sealed on March 14, 2002, with its indictment for obstruction of justice. We find that on these dates the clients of AA and other Big Five auditors that are characterized by higher information uncertainty experience relatively larger share price declines compared to clients with lower information uncertainty. The findings suggest that the market relies more heavily on auditor reputation for higher information uncertainty firms, which implies that the value of an audit is greater when a firm is harder to value. Our results highlight the importance of information uncertainty in financial markets: where there is a shock to auditor reputation, firms with greater information uncertainty suffer the largest losses.Information uncertainty Auditor reputation Contagion Arthur Andersen