The theory of rational expectations (Limperg, 1926) states that the auditor’s report derivesits added value (confidence) from expert work, on which the audit opinion is to be founded.The auditor, in performing his/her task, should be governed by the rational expectations ofthose who may use his/her report. In other words, the auditor should act in such a way thathe/she does not disappoint these expectations (general auditing norm), while, on the otherhand, he/she should not arouse greater expectations in his/her auditor’s report than his/herexamination justifies. As a consequence, every consideration about the contents of the auditor’sreport should be tested in the light of this requirement.
(Blokdijk et al., 1995: 23–24)