Concentration on the German audit market—an empirical analysis of the concentration on the German market for stock corporation audits

Abstract

The audit market has changed significantly over the last few years. Clients' internationalisation and their extended service demands have required a diversification that can best be delivered by large and internationally-adjusted audit firms. This demand resulted in important mergers among national as well as with international audit companies going along with a growing concentration on the German audit market. This study is based on the 200 largest German listed stock corporations with respect to average stock capital for the years 1991 and 1994 and is concerned with the investigation into whether the concentration process continues and whether there are developments representing German particularities.