The relationship between corporate governance and intellectual capital: The moderating role of firm size

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the moderating role of firm size on the relationship between corporate governance (CG) and intellectual capital (IC) efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology was a pooled data for three years (2012-2014) for 171 listed firms, resulting in 489 observations.

Findings

The findings revealed that the inclusion of firm size as a moderating variable has influenced positively only the relationship between CG principles and capital employed efficiency (CEE). Further, the finding showed that the two IC components namely, human capital efficiency and structural capital efficiency, tend to be higher with firms that high level of CG adoption. However, CEE tends to be higher with firms that have lower level of CG adoption. Other finding shows that CG index was significant with the three IC components.

Originality/value

Such information will help the stakeholders, investors, decision-makers, regulators, policymakers and scholars to improve their knowledge about IC. Furthermore, it will be useful for firms to place their priorities regarding the internal system and financial plans for effective and efficient use of CG and IC.

Citation

Buallay, A. and Hamdan, A. (2019), "The relationship between corporate governance and intellectual capital: The moderating role of firm size", International Journal of Law and Management, Vol. 61 No. 2, pp. 384-401. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-02-2018-0033