Time: 14:30, 14 November 2025
Speaker: Boluo Liu is an Associate Professor and master's supervisor at the School of Accountancy, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. His research focuses on accounting information disclosure and auditing. His papers have been published in The Accounting Review, Journal of International Business Studies, China Economic Review, and other journals.
Abstract:
In this study, we examine the effect of public credit registries (PCRs) on firms' voluntary use of audit services. Based on a firm-level sample from 55 countries, we find that public credit registries increase private firms' demand for external audit services. This increase occurs because audits enable firms to better benefit from information sharing through public credit registries, including greater access to external financing on more favorable terms. The study provides causal inference using an identification strategy based on the introduction of public credit registries. Overall, the study offers strong evidence that lenders' improved access to borrower credit information through public credit registries, an important financial market institution, stimulates these firms' voluntary use of audit services.
