Final answer:
True. Intangible assets like intellectual property and patents can be highly valuable and hard to replicate, often surpassing the worth of physical assets. Contrarily, tangible assets such as collectibles may not always yield high returns over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks if intangible assets are equally as or more valuable than financial and physical assets, and if they are difficult to duplicate or imitate. The statement is true. Intangible assets such as technology, brand reputation, patents, and intellectual property often hold immense value that may exceed the value of an organization's physical assets. These assets are critical since they provide a competitive edge and are challenging to copy or acquire by other companies.
For example, while the cost of the materials like plastic and wiring that go into the manufacturing of computers is relatively small, the value of the technology and ideas that enable computers to perform complex tasks constitutes a significant portion of the computer's overall value. Additionally, tangible assets like collectibles can sometimes provide a return on investment. However, the rate of return on tangible assets such as paintings or baseball cards is not consistently high over time, and they come with varying levels of risk and liquidity challenges.