Abbott and Parker (2000, 2001) posit that independent audit committee directors
possess a two-factor audit quality demand function. The first factor is reputational
capital enhancement/preservation. Outside audit committee directors may view the
directorate as a means of enhancing their reputations as experts in decision control
(Fama and Jensen 1983). Although audit committee se:rvice increases the reputational
capital of these outside directors, it may also exacerbate the reputational
damage should a financial misstatement occur. The second audit quality demand
factor unique to independent audit committee directors concems director liability. In
cases of financial misstatement, outside nonaudit committee directors can potentially
subrogate their director liability to audit committee members by asserting reliance on
the audit committee for issues such as the adequacy of the firm's financial reporting
and relationship with its extemal auditor (Reinstein, Callaghan, and Braiotta 1984).3