Past and future for intellectual capital disclosure

This study provides a systematic literature review on intellectual capital disclosure (ICD). 143 articles published in the Journal of Intellectual Capital and International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, from their inception to 2022 were assessed. The results show that nine main themes can be distinguished in ICD research: ICD practices; ICD nature, extent and quality; ICD guidelines or models; stakeholders' perceptions; reflections on content analysis as a methodological instrument; the relationship between initial public offerings and ICD; ICD in universities; ICD through integrated reports. It was also found that the most adopted theories were agency, stakeholders, legitimacy, and signalling theories, and that both qualitative and quantitative methodologies have been used. Finally, further research on ICD is provided: the use of non-content analysis research methods, the adoption of alternative means of disclosure, models and guidelines, the need to increase longitudinal research or the importance of analysing new trends on ICD.