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Accounting for intangibles – a critical review of policy recommendations

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  • Douglas Skinner

Abstract

I review and critically evaluate the arguments in favour of reforming current accounting and disclosure practices related to intangibles. I argue that the case for reform is actually rather weak. Proponents of reform provide little cogent evidence in support of claims that current practice is having adverse capital market effects. In fact, theory and evidence from corporate finance suggest that capital markets perform well in financing investments in innovative, high‐technology activities. I discuss why mandating additional disclosure in this area is unlikely to be successful and that proposals to recognise intangibles are also flawed.

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  • Douglas Skinner, 2008. "Accounting for intangibles – a critical review of policy recommendations," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(3), pages 191-204.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:acctbr:v:38:y:2008:i:3:p:191-204
    DOI: 10.1080/00014788.2008.9663332
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    5. Sandra Brosnan & David O’Donnell & Philip O’Regan, 2019. "A performative exploration of the lifeworlds of human capital and financial capital: an intellectual capital case vignette," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(2), pages 321-344, June.
    6. Frédérique Evraert-Bardinet, 2017. "Intellectual capital, governance and institutional factors [Capital intellectuel, gouvernance et facteurs institutionnels]," Post-Print hal-01907521, HAL.
    7. Hossain, Ashrafee T. & Masum, Abdullah-Al & Xu, Jian, 2023. "COVID-19, a blessing in disguise for the Tech sector: Evidence from stock price crash risk," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
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    9. Xiaolu Xu & Leo L. Yang & Joseph H. Zhang, 2022. "How do auditors respond to client firms’ technological peer pressure? Evidence from going‐concern opinions," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(9-10), pages 1553-1580, October.
    10. Hsu, Po-Hsuan & Taylor, Mark P. & Wang, Zigan & Xu, Qi, 2022. "Currency volatility and global technological innovation," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    11. Ioniţă Cătălin Gabriel, 2022. "Exploration vs. Exploitation: How Innovation Strategies Impact Firm Performance and Competitive Advantage," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 16(1), pages 31-46, August.
    12. Guthrie, James & Ricceri, Federica & Dumay, John, 2012. "Reflections and projections: A decade of Intellectual Capital Accounting Research," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 68-82.
    13. Smith, Julia A. & Cordina, Renzo, 2014. "The role of accounting in high-technology investments," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(3), pages 309-322.
    14. Voicu D. Dragomir & Valentin Florentin Dumitru, 2023. "Recognition and Measurement of Crypto-Assets from the Perspective of Retail Holders," FinTech, MDPI, vol. 2(3), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Warren Maroun & Wayne van Zijl & Rottok Chesaina & Robert Garnett, 2022. "The Beautiful Game: Fair Value, Accountability and Accounting for Player Registrations," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 32(3), pages 334-351, September.
    16. Michal Novák, 2018. "The Quality of Disclosure under IAS 38 in Financial Statements of Entities Listed on PSE," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2018(2), pages 31-44.
    17. Franko Milost & Ziga Cepar, 2018. "Could the Suitability of the Existing Accounting System be Argued?," Management, University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, vol. 13(3), pages 213-225.
    18. Labidi, Manel & Gajewski, Jean François, 2019. "Does increased disclosure of intangible assets enhance liquidity around new equity offerings?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 426-437.
    19. Xuejing Xie & Weiguo Zhang, 2023. "Should More Internally Generated Intangible Assets Be Recognized? A Commentary," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(1), pages 6-31, March.

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