Intangibles in tangible productivity discrepancies

Charles-Henri DiMaria

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: This paper revisits the role of intangible capital in explaining the productivity slowdown across advanced economies. Using cross-country data for 28 OECD countries over 2000–2021, it shows that extending the asset boundary mainly affects the level of value added, with only limited impact on productivity growth rates. Intangibles therefore do not fundamentally alter the aggregate picture, but provide a measurement framework more consistent with knowledge-service-based economies. Simple cross-sectional evidence highlights that the contribution of intangible capital is highly heterogeneous. In particular, organisational capital emerges as the only component consistently associated with productivity differences across countries. These findings shift the focus from the quantity of investment to firm-level capabilities, emphasising the role of organisational structures and managerial practices in shaping productivity outcomes.

Keywords: Intangibles; Organisational capital (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O47 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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