Concentration on the market of audit services provided to publicly listed companies: Evidence from Poland

Abstract

Paper's objectives The main purpose of the article was to identify the level of concentration on the market of audit services provided to public companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The additional aim of the article was to identify the level of rotation among companies providing audit services to public companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Methods applied The research conclusions were formulated based on the analysis of 3,960 annual reports prepared in the years between 2011 and 2019 by companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Findings The study found that over the years from 2011 to 2016 the concentration (measured by BIG4, CR4, CR8, and 10KAP indicators) on the market of auditing services provided to public companies increased. However, as of 2017, this concentration began to decline. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the new regulations on the audit market. In the analyzed period, eight audit firms, referred to in the article as “leading”, provided their services to an average of >62% of public companies. Their share in the market of auditing services varied from sector to sector. At the turn of 2016 and of 2017, a significant increase in the level of rotation on the market of audit services provided to public companies was observed. This level varied from sector to sector. Originality/value The literature on the subject has not yet presented a comprehensive analysis of the impact of EU directives on the structure of the Polish market of audit services provided to public companies. This issue is a research gap, which has been filled in this article.