The Influence of Accounting and Auditing on a Country's Economic Development

Prior studies have identified several factors associated with economic growth including a country's: legal system, banking system, stock markets, and accounting standards. This research examines cross-country differences in accounting and auditing to assess their role in a country's economic development. We investigate the effects of the per capita number of practicing accountants, auditors, and tax preparers on economic wealth per capita. In addition, we investigate whether economic wealth results from the source of accounting standard setting (i.e., government, private sector or both). Finally, we investigate whether the professionalism of a country's internal audit activity, as measured by its ability to achieve the status of a chapter in the Institute of Internal Auditors (HA) relates to economic growth. The dependent variable for all tests, per capita GNP, was regressed on these variables to determine the type and strength of association between them. The results indicate that on average, countries with larger per capita numbers of accountants and auditors, and number of chapters of the IIAhad greater wealth per capita than those with smaller per capita number of accountants and auditors and number of chapters of the IIA. Also, countries that had input from both the private and public sectors in setting standards had higher per capita wealth.