Using a sample of U.S. firms spanning 2001-2011, we examine whether female directors (female audit committee members) affect audit quality in terms of audit effort and auditor choice.
After correcting for endogeneity and other board, firm and industry characteristics, we find that firms with gender-diverse boards pay higher audit fees and are more likely to choose specialist auditors compared to their peers. Our findings suggest that boards with female directors are likely to demand higher audit quality, ceteris paribus.