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Value relevance of human capital based disclosures: Moderating effects of labor productivity, investor sentiment, analyst coverage and audit quality

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  • Samudhram, Ananda
  • Stewart, Errol
  • Wickramanayake, Jayasinghe
  • Sinnakkannu, Jothee

Abstract

Voluntarily disclosed employee costs in annual reports of listed firms are value relevant, according to US based studies. However, investors appear to fail to take full advantage of the signaling opportunities presented by these disclosures. This study suggests that labor productivity, audit quality, analyst coverage and high technology categorization moderate the value relevance of voluntarily disclosed employee costs in Malaysia, contributing a novel set of moderating variables to the human capital accounting and value relevance literature, and extending the extant literature to an emerging economy. The results are consistent with the findings from US based settings, after incorporating these moderating factors. Pertinent policy recommendations, based on these findings, are suggested.

Suggested Citation

  • Samudhram, Ananda & Stewart, Errol & Wickramanayake, Jayasinghe & Sinnakkannu, Jothee, 2014. "Value relevance of human capital based disclosures: Moderating effects of labor productivity, investor sentiment, analyst coverage and audit quality," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 338-353.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:advacc:v:30:y:2014:i:2:p:338-353
    DOI: 10.1016/j.adiac.2014.09.012
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    1. Rute Gonçalves & Patrícia Lopes, 2015. "Value-Relevance of Biological Assets under IFRS," FEP Working Papers 556, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    2. K. Vithana & T. Soobaroyen & C. G. Ntim, 2021. "Human Resource Disclosures in UK Corporate Annual Reports: To What Extent Do These Reflect Organisational Priorities Towards Labour?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 475-497, March.

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