The effect of economic cycles on the interaction between financial constraints and the replacement of the independent auditor in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange

AbstractThe period of recession increases the level of risk of companies. In particular, due to the higher risk, companies may violate the terms of debt contracts, such as the ratio of equity to debt, or companies may go bankrupt. Higher risk levels and concerns from creditors and investors require strong auditors to work harder, more comprehensive audit procedures, and more investment and effort in audits. In different economic times, banks systematically change their lending standards in the business cycle, which means that the granting of facilities during the recession is limited due to the possibility of non-return, and vice versa during the economic boom, so that Lending cycles make business cycles worse. The statistical population of the study is all manufacturing companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange from the beginning of 2009 to the end of 2019. The study sample consisted of 125 companies that were selected using a systematic elimination method. The results of testing the hypotheses showed that the variables of economic cycles and the interaction of economic cycles were significant on the relationship between financial constraints and the replacement of the independent auditor.