Title: A study on intellectual capital disclosure determinants in the European context

Authors: Saida Dammak, Mohamed Triki, Younes Boujelbene

Addresses: University of Economic Sciences and Management, Unite de recherche Gouvernance, Route de l'Afrane Km 1,5 Sfax 3003, Tunisia. ' High School of Commerce, Unite de recherche Gouvernance, Sfax, Tunisia. ' High Institute of Administration, Unite de recherche en economie appliquee URECA, Sfax, Tunisia

Abstract: The difference between the book value of the company and the market value, which is constantly increasing, motivates many researchers to identify the missing information from financial statements. This accounting incapacity shows that the human and organisational factors replace technical and industrial capital. Consequently, European multinational companies are developing disclosure strategies about intellectual capital. The central question of this paper is on this observation: what motivates European companies to communicate on intellectual capital components which exceed or complete accounting disclosure? A multivariate regression analysis tests the link between the intellectual capital disclosure and firm|s characteristics. The study|s results show that size, intangible contributions in the balance sheet, indebtedness, performance, multinationality, sector and the auditor type appear to influence the intellectual capital disclosure in a significant manner. This research sets up indicators used in formulating the communication norms.

Keywords: intellectual capital; financial disclosure; regression analysis; European MNCs; multinational companies; accounting disclosure.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLIC.2008.021020

International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital, 2008 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.417 - 430

Published online: 31 Oct 2008 *

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