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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Management and Information Systems
First Advisor
Anand Jha
Second Advisor
Cuyler Strong
Abstract
This dissertation explores how firm‐level regulatory intensity affects both external audit outcomes and shareholder distributions. Using a machine‐learning measure of regulatory burden (RegIn) merged with twenty years of Compustat and Audit Analytics data, Chapter One shows that higher RegIn raises audit fees and extends engagement duration, particularly for firms with weak internal controls or litigation exposure. A difference‐in‐differences test around Dodd‐Frank confirms a causal link. Chapter Two demonstrates that heavier regulatory demands prompt firms to increase total payouts—driven chiefly by dividends—as institutional investors use dividends to discipline management amid uncertainty. This dividend response is most pronounced in firms with concentrated institutional ownership and weaker governance, and it correlates with higher firm valuations. The findings illuminate how regulatory oversight shapes audit resource allocation and payout policies.
Recommended Citation
Abdelbar, Yahia Mahmoud Elsebaey, "The Effect Of Regulatory Intensity On Corporate Audit Fees And Payout Policies" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4250.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4250