So what is assetization? Filling some theoretical gaps

Abstract

Birch and Ward (2022) propose the concept of assetization to frame a research agenda in Human Geography. This interesting proposal suffers from a rather imprecise definition of what an asset is, and that is a gap I intend to fill. I argue that assetization, for Birch and Ward, does not concern every type of asset, but only what can be described as ‘financialized assets’, including financial as well as intangible assets. I underline what financialized financial and intangible assets have in common and how that makes them relevant for analyzing contemporary capitalism. More precise specification of the assets created by Birch and Ward's assetization process clarifies the concept's true potential contribution.