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Payout policy and the interaction of firm-level and country-level governance

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  • Richard Herron

    (Northeastern University)

Abstract

For a panel of 1880 firms across 21 countries from 2004 to 2008, the impact of firm-level and country-level governance on payout policy is consistent with the La Porta et al. (J Finance 60(1):1–33, 2000) outcome model. In weak legal regimes, dividends increase in firm-level governance. In strong legal regimes, dividends decrease in firm-level governance while share repurchases increase, substituting tax-efficient, flexible share repurchases for rigid dividends. Consistent with the outcome model, payout decreases in growth opportunities when firm-level and country-level governance are high. These results are robust to an instrumental variable approach and alternative firm-level and country-level governance measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Herron, 2022. "Payout policy and the interaction of firm-level and country-level governance," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 1-39, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:rqfnac:v:58:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s11156-021-00986-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11156-021-00986-1
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Payout policy; Corporate governance; International financial markets;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets

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