（2003）The Implications of Economic Theories for Data Level Assurances：Research Opportunities.pdfVIP

The Implications of Economic Theories for Data Level Assurances : Research Opportunities Eric E. Cohen Barbara Lamberton Saeed Roohani PricewaterhouseCoope rs University of Hartf ord Bry ant College Abstract Performance View, SysTrust, and WebTrust were the first four The obj ective of the p aper is to exp lore the issues and new services developed as additional services to be provided opp ortunities associated with data level assurance services in by CPAs. Independence is the essential component of all the new business-rep orting environment. The p aper p resents forms of assurance, both the traditional and new services. an overview of the terminology, technology, and background The newer assurances, however, are expected to be less associated with data level assurances. The p aper also comp ares structured than traditional services and involve more new, business-information assurance to traditionalfi nancial “targeted” users and more specific information. Data level statement assurance. Finally, the p aper reviews several assurances fall under this category. economic theories that have been used to exp lain the use The obje ctive of this paper is to explore the issues and and value attached to business information. In p articular, the opportunities associated with data level assurance services discussion includes imp lications f or data level assurance f rom in the new business-reporting environment. The first section the pe rsp ective of information economics, agency theory, and of the paper presents an overview of the terminology and transaction-cost economics. The intent is to identif y research technology associated with data level assurances followed imp lications that