IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/ausact/v28y2018i3p334-344.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12184
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/auar.12184?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Myers, Stewart C. & Majluf, Nicholas S., 1984. "Corporate financing and investment decisions when firms have information that investors do not have," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 13(2), pages 187-221, June.
    2. Stewart C. Myers & Nicholas S. Majluf, 1984. "Corporate Financing and Investment Decisions When Firms Have InformationThat Investors Do Not Have," NBER Working Papers 1396, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Anne Wyatt & Margaret Abernethy, 2008. "Accounting for Intangible Investments," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 18(2), pages 95-107, June.
    4. David Roodman, 2009. "How to do xtabond2: An introduction to difference and system GMM in Stata," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 9(1), pages 86-136, March.
    5. Bronwyn Hall & Benoit Mulkay and Jacques Mairesse, 2001. "Firm Level Investment and R and D in France and the United States: A Comparison," Economics Series Working Papers 2001-W02, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.
    6. Benoît Mulkay & Bronwyn H, Hall & Jacques Mairesse, 2000. "Firm Level Investment and R&D in France and the United States : A Comparison," Working Papers 2000-49, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
    7. Vijaya Murthy & Jan Mouritsen, 2011. "The performance of intellectual capital," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(5), pages 622-646, June.
    8. Stephen R. Bond, 2002. "Dynamic panel data models: a guide to micro data methods and practice," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 1(2), pages 141-162, August.
    9. James R. Frederickson & Elizabeth Webster & Ian O. Williamson, 2010. "Is the Current Accounting Treatment of Education and Training Costs Appropriate?," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 20(3), pages 265-273, September.
    10. Jan Mouritsen & Per Nikolaj Bukh & Heine Kaasgaard Bang, 2005. "Understanding Intellectual Capital in an Innovative Medium-sized Firm: The Case Of Maxon Telecom," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 15(36), pages 30-39, July.
    11. Shigeki Sakakibara & Bo Hansson & Tadanori Yosano & Hideo Kozumi, 2010. "Analysts’ Perceptions of Intellectual Capital Information," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 20(3), pages 274-285, September.
    12. David Roodman, 2006. "How to Do xtabond2," North American Stata Users' Group Meetings 2006 8, Stata Users Group.
    13. Ho, Carol-Anne & Williams, S. Mitchell, 2003. "International comparative analysis of the association between board structure and the efficiency of value added by a firm from its physical capital and intellectual capital resources," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 465-491.
    14. Carla Carvalho & Ana Maria Rodrigues & Carlos Ferreira, 2016. "The Recognition of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets in Business Combinations – The Portuguese Case," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(1), pages 4-20, March.
    15. Manuel Arellano & Stephen Bond, 1991. "Some Tests of Specification for Panel Data: Monte Carlo Evidence and an Application to Employment Equations," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 58(2), pages 277-297.
    16. Bettina Becker, 2013. "The Determinants of R&D Investment: A Survey of the Empirical Research," Discussion Paper Series 2013_09, Department of Economics, Loughborough University, revised Sep 2013.
    17. 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.
    18. Ho, Carol-Anne & Williams, S. Mitchell, 2003. "Reply to "International comparative analysis of the association between board structure and the efficiency of value added by a firm from its physical capital and intellectual capital resources: A," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 499-502.
    19. Stephen Bond, 2002. "Dynamic panel data models: a guide to microdata methods and practice," CeMMAP working papers CWP09/02, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    20. James R. Brown & Steven M. Fazzari & Bruce C. Petersen, 2009. "Financing Innovation and Growth: Cash Flow, External Equity, and the 1990s R&D Boom," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 64(1), pages 151-185, February.
    21. Hansen, Lars Peter & Singleton, Kenneth J, 1982. "Generalized Instrumental Variables Estimation of Nonlinear Rational Expectations Models," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(5), pages 1269-1286, September.
    22. Wintoki, M. Babajide & Linck, James S. & Netter, Jeffry M., 2012. "Endogeneity and the dynamics of internal corporate governance," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(3), pages 581-606.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. 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.
    11. 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.
    12. 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.
    13. 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.
    14. 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.
    15. 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.
    16. 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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Martinsson, Gustav, 2009. "Finance and R&D Investments - is there a debt overhang effect on R&D investments?," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 174, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    2. Théo Nicolas, 2019. "How Do Short-term Financial Constraints Affect SMEs’ Long-Term Investment: Evidence from the Working Capital Channel," Working papers 731, Banque de France.
    3. Lai Trung Hoang & Cuong Cao Nguyen & Baiding Hu, 2017. "Ownership Structure and Firm Performance Improvement: Does it Matter in the Vietnamese Stock Market?," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(4), pages 416-428, December.
    4. Sevcan Yesiltas, 2009. "Financing Constraints and Investment: The Case of Turkish Manufacturing Firms," 2009 Meeting Papers 874, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    5. De Cesari, Amedeo & Espenlaub, Susanne & Khurshed, Arif, 2011. "Stock repurchases and treasury share sales: Do they stabilize price and enhance liquidity?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 1558-1579.
    6. Mai, Nhat Chi, 2017. "Ownership concentration, state ownership and firm performance: Empirical evidence from the Vietnamese stock market," OSF Preprints zgvsw, Center for Open Science.
    7. Falavigna, Greta & Ippoliti, Roberto, 2023. "SMEs’ behavior under financial constraints: An empirical investigation on the legal environment and the substitution effect with tax arrears," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    8. Le, Thi Phuong Vy & Phan, Thi Bich Nguyet, 2017. "Capital structure and firm performance: Empirical evidence from a small transition country," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 710-726.
    9. Natalia Szomko, 2017. "The Importance of Estimation Method Choice for the Analysis of the Determinants of Capital Structure– An Example of Poland," World Journal of Applied Economics, WERI-World Economic Research Institute, vol. 3(1), pages 3-20, June.
    10. Fier, Stephen G. & McCullough, Kathleen A. & Carson, James M., 2013. "Internal capital markets and the partial adjustment of leverage," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 1029-1039.
    11. Guariglia, Alessandra & Liu, Xiaoxuan & Song, Lina, 2011. "Internal finance and growth: Microeconometric evidence on Chinese firms," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 96(1), pages 79-94, September.
    12. Vijayakumaran, Ratnam, 2021. "Impact of managerial ownership on investment and liquidity constraints: Evidence from Chinese listed companies," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    13. Zhang, Dongyang & Liu, Deqiang, 2017. "Determinants of the capital structure of Chinese non-listed enterprises: Is TFP efficient?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 179-202.
    14. Beutler, Toni & Bichsel, Robert & Bruhin, Adrian & Danton, Jayson, 2020. "The impact of interest rate risk on bank lending," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    15. Curtiss, Jarmila & Ratinger, Tomas & Medonos, Tomas, 2012. "Ownership and Investment Behaviour in Transition Countries: A Case Study of Collective and Corporate Farms in the Czech Republic," Working papers 122841, Factor Markets, Centre for European Policy Studies.
    16. Martinsson, Gustav, 2010. "Equity financing and innovation: Is Europe different from the United States?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1215-1224, June.
    17. Canarella, Giorgio & Miller, Stephen M., 2022. "Firm size, corporate debt, R&D activity, and agency costs: Exploring dynamic and non-linear effects," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 25(C).
    18. Magda Bianco & Maria Bontempi & Roberto Golinelli & Giuseppe Parigi, 2013. "Family firms’ investments, uncertainty and opacity," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(4), pages 1035-1058, May.
    19. Bakhat, Mohcine & Labandeira, Xavier & Labeaga, José M. & López-Otero, Xiral, 2017. "Elasticities of transport fuels at times of economic crisis: An empirical analysis for Spain," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(S1), pages 66-80.
    20. Thi Phuong Vy Le & Kathy Tannous, 2016. "Ownership Structure and Capital Structure: A Study of Vietnamese Listed Firms," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 319-344, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:ausact:v:28:y:2018:i:3:p:334-344. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1035-6908 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.