PCAOB Announces Christian Leuz Joins the Center for Economic Analysis

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board today announced that Christian Leuz has joined the Center for Economic Analysis as an economic advisor.

Leuz, the Joseph Sondheimer Professor of International Economics, Finance and Accounting at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, will advise the PCAOB on the development of analyses and metrics to evaluate the impact and effectiveness of its programs, among other projects.

"Professor Leuz is a recognized leader in the research of the role of accounting in our capital markets. I am grateful that he has agreed to assist the PCAOB," said James R. Doty, PCAOB Chairman. "The investors we serve will benefit from the valuable insight he brings to the Center for Economic Analysis."

The PCAOB recently established the Center for Economic Analysis to study the role of the audit in capital formation and investor protection, and promote and encourage related economic research.

The Center will advise the Board on how economic theory, analysis, and tools can be used to enhance the effectiveness of PCAOB program areas, including standard setting, inspections and other oversight activities.

"I am honored to serve as an economic advisor to the PCAOB. Auditing and audit oversight are important economic institutions in today's capital markets. So using economic analysis to better understand their functioning is of tremendous importance," said Professor Leuz. "I am grateful for the opportunity to work with the PCAOB on these issues."

Professor Leuz is a co-director of Chicago Booth's Initiative on Global Markets, and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and the European Corporate Governance Institute. He also is a fellow at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania's Financial Institutions Center, the Goethe Universität Frankfurt's Center for Financial Studies, and the CESifo Research Network. In addition, he is the current editor of the Journal of Accounting Research.

From 2007 to 2009, Professor Leuz was a member of the Advisory Committee on Financial Reporting of the Netherlands Authority for Financial Markets (AFM). He has received several awards and honors, including the 2012 Humboldt Research Award, the 2011 Wildman Medal Award, and the 2010 Notable Contribution to the Accounting Literature Award.

Professor Leuz earned an undergraduate degree in business economics from Goethe Universität in Germany and a MS in finance and management from the University of Wisconsin. He also received a doctorate, summa cum laude, and a postdoctoral degree from Goethe Universität.