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The Importance of Intellectual Capital for Firm Performance: Evidence from Australia

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  • Muhammad Nadeem
  • Christopher Gan
  • Cuong Nguyen

Abstract

This study investigates the dynamic relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and firm performance (FP) through system generalised methods of moments, when previous studies produced divergent results based on static OLS or fixed‐effects estimations. Based on 571 listed firms in Australia for the period of 2005–2014 (5518 firm‐years) this study reveals that IC efficiency is positively significant with ROA and ROE – which endorses resource‐based theory. Further analysis shows that human capital, structural capital and physical capital are also significant and confidently endorse resource‐dependency and organisation‐learning theories. The findings of this study are vital for stakeholders such as management, shareholders and potential investors to understand the role of IC for FP. Moreover, the findings are particularly important for policy‐setters to highlight the importance of IC and develop a systematic framework for IC disclosure. This study also opens new avenues for future research to consider the dynamic nature of the IC–FP relationship and account for endogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Nadeem & Christopher Gan & Cuong Nguyen, 2018. "The Importance of Intellectual Capital for Firm Performance: Evidence from Australia," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(3), pages 334-344, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:28:y:2018:i:3:p:334-344
    DOI: 10.1111/auar.12184
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    1. Fawad Ahmad, 2025. "The Relationship Between Intellectual Capital, Financial Stability, Firm Performance, Market Value, and Bankruptcy Risk: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 16(1), pages 1347-1395, March.
    2. Jian Xu & Binghan Wang, 2018. "Intellectual Capital, Financial Performance and Companies’ Sustainable Growth: Evidence from the Korean Manufacturing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Wei-han Liu & Qian Long Kweh, 2022. "Reexamining nonlinear effects of intellectual capital on firm efficiency," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(2), pages 1319-1344, August.
    4. Syed Quaid Ali Shah & Fong-Woon Lai & Muhammad Kashif Shad & Zdeňka Konečná & Feybi Ariani Goni & Abdoulmohammad Gholamzadeh Chofreh & Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, 2021. "The Inclusion of Intellectual Capital into the Green Board Committee to Enhance Firm Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Md. Sohel Rana & Syed Zabid Hossain, 2023. "Intellectual Capital, Firm Performance, and Sustainable Growth: A Study on DSE-Listed Nonfinancial Companies in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Mila Austria Reyes & Monika Kussetya Ciptani & Teuku Ismail Fahmi, 2025. "Intellectual Capital Effects on Firm’s Profitability with Industry Types as Moderating Variable," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(1), pages 3390-3405, January.
    7. Ahmed Mohamed Habib & Tamanna Dalwai, 2024. "Does the Efficiency of a Firm’s Intellectual Capital and Working Capital Management Affect Its Performance?," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(1), pages 3202-3238, March.
    8. Monika Barak & Rakesh Kumar Sharma, 2024. "Does intellectual capital impact the financial performance of Indian public sector banks? An empirical analysis using GMM," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Rayed Obaid Hammoud AlObaid & Omar Al Farooque & Ameen Qasem, 2025. "Does disclosure of CSR activities improve corporate value? Moderating role of intellectual capital and COVID-19 pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-18, December.
    10. Angi Skhvediani & Anastasia Koklina & Tatiana Kudryavtseva & Diana Maksimenko, 2023. "The Impact of Intellectual Capital on the Firm Performance of Russian Manufacturing Companies," Risks, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-25, April.
    11. Aishwarya Narayan & Sumukh Hungund, 2022. "Enhancing Firm Performance Through Adoption of Innovation: an Empirical Evidence from Indian Biotechnological Firms," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 13(3), pages 2431-2456, September.
    12. Monika Barak & Rakesh Kumar Sharma, 2024. "Analyzing the Impact of Intellectual Capital on the Financial Performance: A Comparative Study of Indian Public and Private Sector Banks," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 20320-20348, December.
    13. He, Qiuqin & Guijarro-Garcia, Maria & Costa-Climent, Juan, 2022. "Impact of knowledge-based capital on firm productivity: The contingent effect of ownership," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 85-94.
    14. Gianluca Ginesti & Mario Ossorio, 2021. "The influence of family-related factors on intellectual capital performance in family businesses," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 25(2), pages 535-560, June.
    15. Znar Ahmed & Muhammad Rosni Amir Hussin & Kashan Pirzada, 2022. "The Impact of Intellectual Capital and Ownership Structure on Firm Performance," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-15, November.
    16. Nadeem, Muhammad & Zaman, Rashid & Suleman, Tahir & Atawnah, Nader, 2021. "CEO ability, career concerns, firms’ lifecycle and investments in intellectual capital," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 237-251.
    17. Yuqiu Lu & Guowei Li & Zhe Luo & Muhammad Anwar & Yunju Zhang, 2021. "Does Intellectual Capital Spur Sustainable Competitive Advantage and Sustainable Growth?: A Study of Chinese and Pakistani Firms," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(1), pages 21582440219, February.
    18. Mehtap Öner & Asli Aybars & Murat Çinko & Emin Avci, 2021. "Intellectual Capital, Technological Intensity and Firm Performance: The Case of Emerging Countries," Scientific Annals of Economics and Business (continues Analele Stiintifice), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, vol. 68(4), pages 459-479, November.
    19. Kim T. Baumgartner & Carolin A. Ernst & Thomas M. Fischer, 2022. "How Corporate Reputation Disclosures Affect Stakeholders’ Behavioral Intentions: Mediating Mechanisms of Perceived Organizational Performance and Corporate Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 175(2), pages 361-389, January.
    20. Vo, Duc, 2018. "Should Bankers Be Concerned with Intellectual Capital? A Study of the Thai Banking Sector," MPRA Paper 103275, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    21. Muhammad Nadeem & Stephen Bahadar & Rashid Zaman & Muhammad Bilal Farooq, 2021. "Does organisational capital influence environmental strategies? Evidence from environmental innovation," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(8), pages 4121-4135, December.

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