Factors Affecting Intellectual Capital Disclosures: A Case of Primary Sectors in Thailand

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the quality of Intellectual Capital Disclosure (ICD) in the modern economic era. Using the data from both agricultural sector and resources sector listed in The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) between 2013-2017 (15 companies each), the study finds that firm size has an influence on all aspects of ICD (Human Capital Disclosure, Internal Capital Disclosure, and External Capital Disclosure). Meanwhile, profitability affects Human Capital Disclosure and Internal Capital Disclosure. As a contribution to previous researches, the findings support the view in which information asymmetry has a positive relationship with External Capital Disclosure. Furthermore, it finds that market share has a significant influence on the quality of Human Capital Disclosure and Intellectual Capital Disclosure. Since the study applies content analysis which investigates companies annual reports according to ICD terms used in the reports, there is a possibility that the quality of ICD will not be wholly captured. In addition, firms may use other sources of information to communicate their ICD. To sum up, this paper assists in giving some insight about the quality of ICD in Thailand, especially agricultural sector and resource sector, as well as trying to inspect other factors related to ICD that was rarely used in previous research, such as market share.