Accounting for Intangibles - A Critical Review of Policy Recommendations

39 Pages Posted: 6 Jan 2008

See all articles by Douglas J. Skinner

Douglas J. Skinner

The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

Date Written: December 2007

Abstract

I review and critically evaluate the arguments in favor of reforming current accounting and disclosure practices related to intangibles. I argue that the case for reform is actually rather weak. Proponents of reform provide little cogent evidence in support of claims that current practice is having adverse capital market effects. In fact, theory and evidence from corporate finance suggest that capital markets perform well in financing investments in innovative, high-technology activities. I discuss why mandating additional disclosure in this area is unlikely to be successful and that proposals to recognize intangibles are also flawed. In my view, private incentives are likely to be the most successful way of encouraging disclosure on intangibles, which means that little needs to be done on the part of accounting standard-setters.

Keywords: Intangibles, Policy Recommendations, Disclosure

JEL Classification: M41

Suggested Citation

Skinner, Douglas J., Accounting for Intangibles - A Critical Review of Policy Recommendations (December 2007). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1080572 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1080572

Douglas J. Skinner (Contact Author)

The University of Chicago - Booth School of Business ( email )

5807 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
United States
773-702-7137 (Phone)

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