Antecedents of Auditing and Reporting Standards’ Strength in Emerging Countries: The Role of Secrecy Culture

Abstract

Auditing and reporting standards are indispensable for ensuring transparency, accountability, and comparability in financial markets. They enhance trust among stakeholders, reduce information asymmetry, and support economic integration. This study examines the moderating role of secrecy culture in the relationship between institutional, governance, and economic factors and the Strength of Auditing and Reporting Standards in emerging markets, using Gray's (1988) Secrecy Theory. Countries are grouped by secrecy levels (low, medium, high) to explore cultural, institutional, and governance impacts. The analysis focuses on association rather than causality, acknowledging the cross-sectional nature of the data. Results show that low-secrecy cultures benefit most from corporate governance, while high-secrecy cultures weaken the effectiveness of governance mechanisms. Foreign ownership is positively associated with Strength of Auditing and Reporting Standards, particularly in high-secrecy countries, while foreign market size is negatively associated with it. The findings emphasize the need for tailored policies, with high-secrecy nations requiring external pressures to enhance transparency and accountability.

Keywords

• Secrecy Culture
• Strength of Auditing and Reporting Standards (SARS)
• Institutional and Governance Indicators

Gelişmekte Olan Ülkelerde Denetim ve Raporlama Standartlarının Gücünün Belirlenmesinde Öncel Faktörler: Gizlilik Kültürünün Rolü

Abstract

Denetim ve raporlama standartları, finansal piyasalarda şeffaflık, hesap verebilirlik ve karşılaştırılabilirliği sağlamak için vazgeçilmezdir. Bu standartlar, paydaşlar arasında güveni artırır, bilgi asimetrisini azaltır ve ekonomik entegrasyonu destekler. Bu çalışma, Gray’in (1988) Gizlilik Teorisi’nden yararlanarak, kurumsal, yönetişim ve ekonomik faktörler ile Denetim ve Raporlama Standartlarının Gücü arasındaki ilişkide gizlilik kültürünün düzenleyici (moderating) rolünü incelemektedir. Ülkeler, kültürel, kurumsal ve yönetişimsel etkileri analiz etmek amacıyla düşük, orta ve yüksek gizlilik düzeylerine göre gruplandırılmıştır. Analiz, verilerin kesitsel yapısı dikkate alınarak nedensellikten ziyade ilişkilere odaklanmaktadır. Bulgular, düşük gizlilik düzeyine sahip kültürlerin kurumsal yönetişimden en fazla faydayı sağladığını, yüksek gizlilik kültürlerinin ise yönetişim mekanizmalarının etkinliğini zayıflattığını göstermektedir. Yabancı sahipliğin, özellikle yüksek gizlilik kültürüne sahip ülkelerde, Denetim ve Raporlama Standartlarının Gücü ile pozitif ilişkili olduğu, yabancı pazar büyüklüğünün ise negatif ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Bulgular, yüksek gizlilik düzeyine sahip ülkelerin şeffaflık ve hesap verebilirliği artırmak için dış baskılara ihtiyaç duyduğunu vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

• Gizlilik Kültürü
• Denetim ve Raporlama Standartlarının Gücü
• Kurumsal ve Yönetişim Göstergeleri

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