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Abstract

This study examines the selective disclosure of labor-related costs by U.S. firms and estimates the proportion of these costs that the market values as an investment in human capital. Labor-related costs are separately identified in the financial reports of only a small fraction of all U.S. Compustat firms. Larger firms, firms in industries that are regulated, are more labor-intensive, and have relatively little competition are more likely to report these costs voluntarily. Using a modification of the residual income valuation framework with a sample of firms that consistently disclosed their labor-related costs, the study finds that for these firms about 16 percent of all such costs represent an investment in human capital, and that about a third of this asset depreciates annually. Further, the human capital asset averages about 5 percent of the total market value of the firm and accounts for about 16 percent of the difference between market and book value. The ratio of the human capital asset to market value is found to be positively related to operating uncertainty, industry concentration, and industry-adjusted average compensation paid to employees. The human capital asset is also positively associated with analysts' long-term forecasts of earnings.