Labor Costs and Investments in Human Capital

35 Pages Posted: 9 Oct 2008

See all articles by Marta Ballester

Marta Ballester

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Joshua Livnat

New York University; Prudential Financial - Quantitative Management Associates

Nishi Sinha

Analysis Group

Date Written: November 1999

Abstract

This study examines the disclosure of labor-related costs by US firms, and estimates the proportion of these costs that are valued as an asset (human capital) by the market. Separate identification of labor-related costs in US financial reports is voluntary, and is made consistentlyonly by about 10% of all US Compustat firms. The probability of disclosure is found to bepositively related to firm size, labor intensity and membership in regulated industries and is inversely related to industry concentration.Using a modification of Ohlson's (1995) framework the study finds that on average about 16% of all such costs are valued by the market as an investment in human capital, and that this human capital asset amortizes at a rate of about 34% per year. Further, the human capital asset averages about 5% of the total market value of the firm and accounts for about 16% 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 average salary paid to employees, operating uncertainty, andthe ratio of labor expenses to sales, but inversely related to the firm s size.

Suggested Citation

Ballester, Marta and Livnat, Joshua and Sinha, Nishi, Labor Costs and Investments in Human Capital (November 1999). NYU Working Paper No. 2451/27573, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1280736

Marta Ballester (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Joshua Livnat

New York University ( email )

44 West 4th Street, Suite 10-76
Stern School of Business
New York, NY 10012-1118
United States
212-998-0022 (Phone)
212-995-4004 (Fax)

Prudential Financial - Quantitative Management Associates ( email )

2 Gateway Center
6th Fl.
Newark, NJ 07102
United States

Nishi Sinha

Analysis Group ( email )

111 Huntington Avenue
10th floor
Boston, MA 02199
United States
2025502040 (Phone)

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