Does intellectual capital disclosure affect the cost of equity capital? An empirical analysis in the integrated reporting context

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of intellectual capital disclosure on the cost of equity capital in the context of integrated reporting, which represents the ultimate frontier in the field of corporate disclosure. Design/methodology/approach The authors employ content analysis to measure intellectual capital disclosure levels along with a panel analysis on a sample of 164 integrated reports. Findings Empirical outcomes indicate that intellectual capital disclosure levels have a significantly negative association with the cost of equity capital. Originality/value This study's major contribution lies in its originality in terms of empirical examination of the relationship between intellectual capital disclosure in integrated reports and the cost of equity capital.