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Corporate governance ratings and the dividend payout decisions of Australian corporate firms

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  • Subba Reddy Yarram

Abstract

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of corporate governance on the dividend payout decisions of Australian firms by considering two related objectives. First, it considers the role of corporate governance ratings (CGRs) on the decision to pay or not to pay dividends. Second, it considers the influence of CGRs on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. Design/methodology/approach - – The sample consists of 413 non-financial firms included in the All Ordinaries Index for the period 2004-2009. A logit model is employed to analyse the decision to pay or omit dividends. Similarly, tobit method is employed to analyse the factors influencing the dividend payout level of Australian firms. To control for unobserved heterogeneity, this study employs random effects panel logit and panel tobit models. Findings - – This study finds that CGRs have a significant positive influence on the decision to pay dividends and on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. Similarly, the present study finds support for signalling hypothesis as profitability has a significant positive influence and a loss dummy has a significant negative influence on the dividend payout decisions of Australian firms. The study also finds support for the life cycle hypothesis as growth opportunities have a significant negative impact on the average dividend payout level of Australian firms. This study finds no conclusive evidence of the existence of dividend tax clientele in Australia. Research limitations/implications - – Dividends provide a complementary governance role consistent with the “outcomes model” of the agency cost theory as proposed by La Portet al.(2000). Practical implications - – The findings have implications for corporate governance policies. Principle-based governance mechanisms work as well as the rule-based governance mechanisms in an environment characterized by high levels of investor protection and well-developed stock markets. Companies that are well governed may limit the opportunities for managers to expropriate shareholders and thus governance may reduce the contracting costs associated with compensation policies. Originality/value - – This is the first study that examines the influence of governance on dividend policy using the CGRs developed by the WHK Horwath/University of Newcastle. Findings are robust and account for unobserved heterogeneity as random effects panel models are employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Subba Reddy Yarram, 2015. "Corporate governance ratings and the dividend payout decisions of Australian corporate firms," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 11(2), pages 162-178, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:ijmfpp:v:11:y:2015:i:2:p:162-178
    DOI: 10.1108/IJMF-01-2013-0012
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ernest Gyapong & Ammad Ahmed & Collins G Ntim & Muhammad Nadeem, 2021. "Board gender diversity and dividend policy in Australian listed firms: the effect of ownership concentration," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 38(2), pages 603-643, June.
    2. Geetanjali Pinto & Shailesh Rastogi, 2019. "Sectoral Analysis of Factors Influencing Dividend Policy: Case of an Emerging Financial Market," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-18, June.
    3. Darija Prša & Aljoša Šestanoviæ & Ivo Ramljak, 2022. "Factors influencing dividend payout policy: Evidence from listed non-financial firms of the Zagreb Stock Exchange," Zbornik radova Ekonomskog fakulteta u Rijeci/Proceedings of Rijeka Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Economics and Business, vol. 40(2), pages 441-457.
    4. Marwan Mansour & Hamzeh Al Amosh & Ahmad Yuosef Alodat & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Mohammed W. A. Saleh, 2022. "The Relationship between Corporate Governance Quality and Firm Performance: The Moderating Role of Capital Structure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    5. Hussein Abedi Shamsabadi & Byung-Seong Min & Richard Chung, 2016. "Corporate governance and dividend strategy: lessons from Australia," International Journal of Managerial Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 12(5), pages 583-610, October.
    6. Anshu Agrawal, 2020. "Modified Total Interpretive Structural Model of Corporate Financial Flexibility," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 21(4), pages 369-388, December.
    7. Eugen-Axel Mihancea & Marilen-Gabriel Pirtea & Florin-Claudiu Boțoc, 2021. "Bibliometric Analysis on the Recent Trends in Dividend Policy Research," Ovidius University Annals, Economic Sciences Series, Ovidius University of Constantza, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 0(2), pages 1051-1059, December.

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