There is a long-standing debate on the recognition of intangible assets and whether they can be measured reliably. Most recognized intangibles are acquired in business combinations, and estimating their fair values is highly subjective. Using a broad sample of business combinations in the U.S....

The nature of “goodwill” for tax purposes was an important issue in Australia long before the adoption of the Commonwealth income tax, with the relationship between goodwill and sales of business premises a central issue in colonial stamp duty assessments (and consequent litigation)....