This study aims to explore and examine the impact and relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and firm performance, and to clarify the variations in intellectual capital efficiency among non-bank financial institutions and non-financial institutions listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange (PEX).
The study examines a sample of 49 firms, including non-bank and non-financial institutions listed on the PEX, during 2014–2024. Secondary financial data were collected from firms in the insurance, investment, industry and services sectors. Intellectual capital efficiency and its effect on firm performance are evaluated using the modified value added intellectual coefficient (MVAIC) model, which includes components for human, structural, relational, and capital-employment efficiency. The relationship between intellectual capital and both accounting-based and market-based firm performance is analyzed using dynamic panel estimation with the generalized method of moments (GMM).
The results indicate that firms across different sectors manage intellectual capital components differently. The empirical analysis shows that intellectual capital and its components significantly influence firm performance among Palestinian listed firms. In particular, human capital efficiency and capital employed efficiency positively contribute to firm performance, while the overall MVAIC index shows a positive and significant relationship with both accounting-based performance (ROA) and market-based performance (Tobin's Q). These findings suggest that stronger intellectual capital efficiency is associated with improved financial and market performance among Palestinian firms.
This study has several limitations, including that it examined only one country and context, and that its secondary data acquisition relied primarily on disclosures and financial reports. Also, the results apply only to non-bank and non-financial institutions in Palestine and cannot be generalized to other companies and institutions.
The study provides important implications for financial executives and decision-makers, encouraging them to increase investment in intellectual capital components to enhance the profitability of Palestinian non-bank and non-financial institutions. The findings are also relevant to policymakers and regulators overseeing listed firms on the PEX, highlighting the importance of strengthening intellectual capital, attracting skilled talent and supporting its development within these institutions.
This study provides new empirical evidence on the role of IC in firm performance using data from non-bank financial institutions and non-financial firms listed on the PEX over the period 2014–2024. By applying the MVAIC model and dynamic panel GMM estimation, the study offers a comprehensive analysis of how different components of intellectual capital affect both accounting-based and market-based performance. The findings extend the existing literature by examining IC efficiency in an under-researched, emerging and developing-market context.
