Intellectual Capital: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

This review brings together insights from 25 empirical studies published between 2021 and 2025 to better understand how intellectual capital (IC) shapes organizational outcomes. Guided by a systematic review approach, the study focused only on high-impact, peer-reviewed journals in the fields of business and economics. Across the selected work, most authors relied on quantitative methods particularly regression models and structural equation modeling and used frameworks such as the Resource-Based View and Intellectual Capital Theory. Despite differences in context, the findings consistently show that human, structural, and relational capital support stronger performance, innovation, and financial results. Research activity on IC has also increased in recent years, with 2024 marking the highest number of publications and the Journal of Intellectual Capital contributing the most studies. Overall, the review highlights the growing importance of IC and suggests that future research should examine its more dynamic aspects and explore settings that remain underrepresented in current literature.