UK investment in intangible assets

This report provides an update on estimates of the level of UK market sector investment in knowledge assets.

Nesta Working Paper 14/02
Issued: March 2014
JEL Classification: O47, E22, E01
Keywords: Innovation, knowledge, intangibles, investment, capital

Abstract

This report provides an update on estimates of the level of UK market sector investment in knowledge assets. Our main findings are:

  1. In 2011 the UK market sector invested £137.5bn in knowledge assets, compared to £89.8bn in tangible assets;
  2. Since the recession of 2008-9, intangible investment has recovered and grew in 2010-11. In contrast investment in tangible assets has been flat;
  3. Within intangible investment, the asset categories for which the most investment is observed in 2011 are: workforce training (£33.6bn); organisational change (£25.5bn); and software (£24.3bn).

Authors

Peter Goodridge, Jonathan Haskel, Gavin Wallis

The Nesta Working Paper Series is intended to make available early results of research undertaken or supported by Nesta and its partners in order to elicit comments and suggestions for revisions and to encourage discussion and further debate prior to publication (ISSN 2050-9820). The views expressed in this working paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of Nesta.