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Intellectual capital practices of firms and the commodification of labour

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  • Indra Abeysekera

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the nature and implications of the actual techniques used in the measuring and reporting of intellectual capital. Design/methodology/approach - The paper takes the form of a literature review. Findings - The paper demonstrates that the commodification of intellectual capital, rather than solving the contradictions accompanying market value maximisation, simply shifts these contradictions to a new location. Practical implications - The wide range of intellectual capital definitions, frameworks, and indices allow firms to choose intellectual capital reporting which will justify maximising their market value, resulting in the construction of data in intellectual capital reporting that hides the reality of the commodification of labour. Originality/value - Commodification of labour through intellectual capital practices is useful to regulators in policy making and accounting standard setting.

Suggested Citation

  • Indra Abeysekera, 2008. "Intellectual capital practices of firms and the commodification of labour," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 21(1), pages 36-48, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:aaajpp:v:21:y:2008:i:1:p:36-48
    DOI: 10.1108/09513570810842313
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Armstrong, Peter, 1991. "Contradiction and social dynamics in the capitalist agency relationship," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-25.
    2. Eli Amir & Baruch Lev & Theodore Sougiannis, 2003. "Do financial analysts get intangibles?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(4), pages 635-659.
    3. Niamh Brennan, 2001. "Reporting intellectual capital in annual reports: evidence from Ireland," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 14(4), pages 423-436, October.
    4. Armstrong, Peter, 2002. "The costs of activity-based management," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 27(1-2), pages 99-120.
    5. Chung, Kee H. & Wright, Peter & Charoenwong, Charlie, 1998. "Investment opportunities and market reaction to capital expenditure decisions," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 41-60, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Mäkelä, Hannele, 2013. "On the ideological role of employee reporting," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 360-378.
    3. Dhasmana, Samriddhi & Goel, Sandeep, 2023. "The insidious hyperreality in financial markets: An integrative review with evidence from the Indian financial market," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    4. Gospel J. Chukwu & Chibuike Camillus Ugo & Benjamin C. Osisioma, 2019. "Market Valuation of Human Capital in Nigerian Banks," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 9(1), pages 21-29, January.
    5. Abeysekera, Indra, 2014. "Why do firms disclose and not disclose structural intangibles?," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 381-393.
    6. Aureliana-Geta Roman & Mihaela Mocanu & Răzvan Hoinaru, 2019. "Disclosure Style and Its Determinants in Integrated Reports," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, April.
    7. DiMaria, charles-henri, 2026. "The rise of the knowledge economy: Productivity measurement challenges," MPRA Paper 129021, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Marco Giuliani & Maria Serena Chiucchi, 2019. "Guess who’s coming to dinner: the case of IC reporting in Italy," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(2), pages 403-433, June.
    9. Emilio Passetti & Andrea Tenucci & Lino Cinquini & Marco Frey, 2008. "Communicating Intellectual Capital: Evidence from Social and Sustainability Reporting," Working Papers 200805, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna of Pisa, Istituto di Management.

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