Ending the Accounting-for-Intangibles Status Quo

Baruch Lev

European Accounting Review, 2019, vol. 28, issue 4, 713-736

Abstract: The surge of corporate intangible investments is the hallmark of developed economies, radically transforming the business models, strategies, and performance of business enterprises. Accounting standard-setters, however, by and large, are oblivious to this world-wide development. I establish in this study that this accounting resistance to change seriously harms investors and the economy-at-large, and accordingly I propose feasible remedial changes to the accounting system to adapt it to economic reality. I discuss implementation issues of the proposed change, and the reasons for the three-decade resistance of accounting standard-setters to change the accounting of intangibles. Finally, in order to facilitate the accounting change, I outline a wide-ranging, policy-oriented research agenda on intangibles and related issues.

Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2018.1521614

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