Journal of Global Economics

The New European Audit Firm Rotation

Abstract

Patrick Velte

The European legislator has introduced a mandatory audit firm rotation principally after ten years and with regard to a cooling off period of four years to increase auditor independence. This kind of external rotation complements the existing internal mandatory rotation (auditor rotation). This paper implies a critical review of the economics need of rotation rules. In contrast to the perception of the European standard setter, mandatory external rotation will not automatically lead to an increased financial accounting and audit quality.