Complex Systems and Sustainability in the Global Auditing, Consulting, and Credit Rating Agency Industries

This book focuses on aspects of Industrial Mathematics (Networks; Complex Systems and Behavioral Game Theory) and Theoretical Computer Science (Behavioral Game Theory and Applied Math). Its major contribution is that it introduces new models and “informal” algorithms that solve social-choice problems (using behavioral Game Theory), it introduces new mathematical proofs, and it introduces new algorithms that prove that the Myerson-Satterthwaite Impossibility Theorem is wrong or inapplicable. The Myerson-Satterthwaite Impossibility Theorem has been a major foundation theorem in various branches of Computer Science and Applied Math.

The book analyzes Industrial Organization, Mechanism Design, Political Economy and Complex Systems issues in the global accounting/consulting industry, the “Quasi-franchising industry” and the global Credit Rating Agency (CRA) industry which are currently some of the most international of all services industries, and have or can have substantial effects on international trade and international capital flows. During 2000-2019, the services sector in general expanded in many countries and especially in emerging markets countries – and that is having substantial effects on the evolution of national economies. The objectives and achievements of this book are multifaceted.

It explains the macroeconomic, behavioral operations research and political economy issues that affect and the evolution of accounting/auditing firms, CRAs, management consulting firms and environmental auditing firms. It also analyzes the types of intra-company decisions and group dynamics and auditor-decisions that can have significant effects on innovation and competition within the accounting/consulting industry and (on clients’ industries) and on overall economic growth in nations. Furthermore, it analyzes structural changes and antitrust problems in the global accounting/consulting industry and the CRA industry and explains how these antitrust problems and structural changes have worsened climate change and corporate compliance with environmental regulations. Among these topics the author also talks about issues that affect audit contract, contracting between CRAs and issuers, and industry structure and evolution by critiquing various existing CRA business models and introducing new business models for the future.