For the few remaining skeptics who read the phrase 'intangible asset finance' as a joke without a punch line, consider this. In the Friday 8 January issue of the Financial Times, Gillian Tett noted that in recent months,

“some of the brightest minds at Moody’s rating agency have been mulling a fascinating question: should they introduce a formal rating of ‘social cohesion’ in sovereign debt indices, when they judge whether a government is likely to default on its debt—or not?”

In other words, if pressed for cash, does a country have enough political and social ‘cohesion’ to make truly tough choices—cutting services or raising taxes—without fomenting revolution? And how do you characterize that risk in a spreadsheet? Hardly a laughing matter, these intangibles, no? 

Dearest Reader:  If the above is winning you over, consider joining the Society and helping us create a rational framework around these critical intangible asset issues. Learn more about us at www.iafinance.org.