Corporate scandals due to bad accounting happen far too frequently for a system of corporate governance to be deemed effective. This book tells why the safeguards designed to prevent bad accounting so often fail. By studying why the auditors and members of a board of directors regularly fail to deliver the truth about a company's financial state of affairs, this provocative book explores a serious problem in the system of reporting financial information.

This book is unique in that it draws together various strands of the literature on corporate governance, accounting, law, cognitive research, psychology, behavioural economics and conventional economics to shed light on questions regarding the feasibility of independence and impartiality of boards of directors and external auditors as monitors and gatekeepers in corporate governance. The book is essential reading for professional accountants and auditors, directors, regulators, law makers, corporate lawyers, and investment bankers. It will appeal to all those interested in behavioural economics and corporate governance.

About the Author
Oliver Marnet is a Lecturer at the University of Exeter Business School.

Reviews

'Marnet provides a rich overview of important issues related to the role of external auditors and board members in corporate governance. Throughout the book, Marnet provides a strong empirical foundation for his arguments. The broad literature review and its application to prominent fraud scandals, the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997/1998 and the failure of Germany's Neuer Markt provide interesting directions for young researchers, regulators, and the key players of corporate governance. The book may be used as a supplementary reference in a corporate governance course for Masters or PhD students or as a rich source of inspiration for behavioral corporate governance researchers. The book is a pleasure to read and despite the rapid growth of literature on judgment and decision-making, it raises many issues that remain relevant for our understanding and the improvement of corporate governance.' - Florian Hoos, HEC Paris, Jouy-en-Josas, France

Book Information
ISBN 9780415620345
Author Oliver Marnet
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 500g