3. EMPIRICAL RESULTS
The audit committee enhanced the financial reporting process by giving more detailed
information and understanding of financial statements. The presence of an audit committee
may be indicated a higher quality overseeing and should mitigate the likelihood of earnings
management. Empirical researches to date showed mixed results. Our meta-analysis illustrates
that there is no significant association between the existence of an audit committee and
earnings management found on either unweighted or weighted Stouffer combined tests.
Moreover, in prior literature, a common expectation is that an independent audit committee
would reduce earnings management.