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The association between dividend payout and outside directorships

Author

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  • Basil Al‐Najjar
  • Khaled Hussainey

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the number of outside directors on the board of directors and dividend payout are substitutes or complements mechanisms applied by UK firms to control agency conflicts of interest within the firm. Design/methodology/approach - The authors use tobit and logit regression models to examine the extent to which firms with a majority of outside directors on their boards experience significantly lower or higher dividend payout after controlling for insider ownership, profitability, liquidity, asset structure, business risk, firm size, firms' growth rate and borrowing ratio. Findings - Based on a sample of 400 non‐financial firms listed at London Stock Exchange for the period from 1991 to 2002, it was found that dividend payout is negatively associated with the number of outside directors on the board of directors. Originality/value - The results suggest that firms pay lower dividends when higher number of outside directors is employed on the board. This evidence is consistent with the substitution hypothesis, which indicated that firms with weak corporate governance need to establish a reputation by paying dividends. In other words, dividends substitute for independent directors on the board. This finding offers novel insights to policy makers interested in agency conflicts of interest within the firm. It also provides evidence on the use of different substitute mechanisms for reducing agency costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Basil Al‐Najjar & Khaled Hussainey, 2009. "The association between dividend payout and outside directorships," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(1), pages 4-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jaarpp:v:10:y:2009:i:1:p:4-19
    DOI: 10.1108/09675420910963360
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mehmet Levent Erdaş & Emel Bachá Sımoes, 2020. "The Relationship between Audit Mechanisms and Dividend Payout Policy within the Framework of Corporate Governance: The Case of Turkey," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 62(0), pages 255-284, December.
    2. Saeed, Abubakr & Sameer, Muhammad, 2017. "Impact of board gender diversity on dividend payments: Evidence from some emerging economies," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1100-1113.
    3. Osama Wagdi & Eman Salman & Walid Abouzeid, 2021. "Maximizing Stockholder Wealth under Corporate Governance Mechanisms: Evidence from EGX," International Journal of Economics and Finance, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(4), pages 1-1, April.
    4. Hussain Haroon & Md-Rus Rohani & Al-Jaifi Hamdan Amer & Hussain Rana Yassir, 2022. "Determinants of Corporate Pay-Out Policy and the Moderating Effects of Firm's Growth: Evidence from Pakistan," Studia Universitatis „Vasile Goldis” Arad – Economics Series, Sciendo, vol. 32(3), pages 65-101, September.
    5. Al-Najjar, Basil & Clark, Ephraim, 2017. "Corporate governance and cash holdings in MENA: Evidence from internal and external governance practices," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 39(PA), pages 1-12.
    6. Ntim, Collins G., 2011. "The King Reports, Independent Non-Executive Directors and Firm Valuation on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange," MPRA Paper 45812, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Yakubu, Ibrahim Nandom, 2019. "The Effect of Working Capital Management on Dividend Policy: An Empirical Analysis of Listed Firms in Ghana," MPRA Paper 95318, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Okun O. Omokhudu & Ohidoa Toluwa, 2018. "Agency Cost and Dividend Policy in Nigerian NonFinancial Quoted Firms," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(4), pages 325-350, April.
    9. Al-Malkawi, Husam-Aldin Nizar & Ishaq Bhatti, M., 2020. "Are tests of dividend policy robust to estimation techniques: The case of an emerging economy?," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 541(C).
    10. Hanaa El-Habashy, 2018. "Determinants of Capital Structure within the Context of Corporate Governance in Egypt," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(8), pages 1-26, June.
    11. Reda Louziri & Khadija Oubal, 2022. "Determinants of Dividend Policy: The Case of the Casablanca Stock Exchange," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-19, November.
    12. Mehmet Levent Erdaş & Emel Bachá Sımoes, 2020. "The Relationship between Audit Mechanisms and Dividend Payout Policy within the Framework of Corporate Governance: The Case of Turkey," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 62(62), pages 255-284, December.
    13. Josephat Lotto, 2020. "Towards Extending Dividend Puzzle Debate: What Motivates Distribution of Corporate Earnings in Tanzania?," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, March.
    14. Hussain Tahir & Ridzuan Masri & Mahfuzur Rahman, 2020. "Determinants of Dividend Pay-Out Policy of Listed Non-financial Firms in Malaysia," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(2), pages 68-76, April.
    15. Hu, Zhenyu & Chang, Jui-Chin, 2022. "Does air pollution affect dividend policy," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    16. Gyimah, Daniel & Gyapong, Ernest, 2021. "Managerial entrenchment and payout policy: A catering effect," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    17. Erhan Kilincarslan, 2018. "The Factors Determining the Dividend Policy of Financial Firms Listed on the Borsa Istanbul," Bogazici Journal, Review of Social, Economic and Administrative Studies, Bogazici University, Department of Economics, vol. 32(1), pages 75-109.
    18. Gehan A. Mousa, 2014. "The Association between Accounting Conservatism and Cash Dividends: Evidence from Emerging Markets," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 4(4), pages 210-220, October.
    19. Anwer, Zaheer & Mohamad, Shamsher & Paltrinieri, Andrea & Hassan, M. Kabir, 2021. "Dividend payout policy of Shariah compliant firms: Evidence from United States," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).

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