慈善捐赠对审计意见的影响——基于慈善捐赠利己动机视角的实证分析

The Influence of Charitable Donation on Audit Opinion——An empirical analysis based on the selfish motives of charitable donations

慈善捐赠是企业履行社会责任的重要表现形式,用以帮助其获取声誉,推动构建或维持良好的政商关系。研究以2008～2016年沪深两市A股上市公司为样本,运用"印象管理"理论,考察了慈善捐赠对审计师出具审计意见的影响。研究发现,公司慈善捐赠水平和慈善捐赠倾向越高,审计师出具非标准审计意见的概率越低。进一步的检验表明,相较于盈余管理程度较低的上市公司,盈余管理程度较高的上市公司更有动机通过慈善捐赠降低非标准审计意见的出具的概率;相较于前一年盈利的上市公司,前一年亏损的上市公司更有动机通过慈善捐赠影响审计师出具非标准审计意见的概率。该研究丰富了审计意见影响因素的相关文献,有助于深入理解公司慈善捐赠行为的动机。

Charitable donation is an important form of corporate social responsibility, which helps corporation gain reputation and promote the construction or maintenance of good political and business relations. Based on the ＂impression management＂ theory, this paper examines the influence of charitable donations on auditors＇ audit opinions by using the A-Share Listed Companies in Shanghai and Sherizhen stock markets from 2008 to 2016. The study finds that the higher the level of charitable donation and the tendency of charitable donation, the lower the probability of auditors issuing modified audit opinions. Further analysis shows that listed companies with higher earnings management are more motivated to reduce the probability of modified audit opinions by charitable donations than listed companies with lower earnings management; compared with listed companies profitable in the previous year, companies who lose in the previous year are more motivated to reduce the probability of modified audit opinions by charitable donations. This study enriches the relevant literature about the influencing factors of audit opinion, and helps to understand the motivation of corporate charitable donation.