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Signaling, corporate governance, and the equilibrium dividend policy

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  • Esqueda, Omar A.

Abstract

The well-documented information content of dividends is contingent on the firm's corporate governance. Using cross-listing events, we find that firms reach a new equilibrium dividend policy after a shift in the level of shareholder protection and the direction of the dividend adjustment depends on the pre-cross-listing locus of control. Exchange-traded cross-listings can afford to decrease dividend payouts as they substitute dividends with better corporate governance. However, dividend distributions and the likelihood to pay dividends increase when cross-listings are controlled by insiders, supporting the signaling hypothesis. The cross-listing level and ownership structure convey useful information regarding future shifts in dividend payouts.

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  • Esqueda, Omar A., 2016. "Signaling, corporate governance, and the equilibrium dividend policy," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 186-199.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:quaeco:v:59:y:2016:i:c:p:186-199
    DOI: 10.1016/j.qref.2015.06.005
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    2. Esqueda, Omar A., 2017. "Controlling shareholders and market timing: Evidence from cross-listing events," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 12-23.
    3. Sunday O. Kajola & Jayeola Olabisi & Kenny A. Soyemi & Peter O. Olayiwola, 2019. "Board Gender Diversity and Dividend Policy in Nigerian Listed Firms," ACTA VSFS, University of Finance and Administration, vol. 13(2), pages 135-151.
    4. Hanaan Yaseen & Ruxandra Trifan, 2019. "The Impact of Dividend Events on Stock Returns: Findings on Companies Listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange," The Review of Finance and Banking, Academia de Studii Economice din Bucuresti, Romania / Facultatea de Finante, Asigurari, Banci si Burse de Valori / Catedra de Finante, vol. 11(2), pages 59-78, December.
    5. Samuel Mongrut Montalvan & Carlos Mario Ramirez Arango & Julian Usma Patiño, 2023. "Corporate Governance and Dividend Policy: Evidence from Colombia," Remef - Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época REMEF (The Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance), Instituto Mexicano de Ejecutivos de Finanzas, IMEF, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, Octubre -.
    6. Esqueda, Omar A. & Jackson, Dave O., 2015. "Cross-listing performance and insider ownership: The experience of U.S. investors," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 32, pages 77-94.
    7. Nejla Ould Daoud Ellili, 2022. "Impact of environmental, social and governance disclosure on dividend policy: What is the role of corporate governance? Evidence from an emerging market," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(5), pages 1396-1413, September.
    8. Ricardo Rodrigues & J. Augusto Felício & Pedro Verga Matos, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Dividend Policy in the Presence of Controlling Shareholders," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, July.
    9. 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.
    10. Shah, Muhammad Hashim & Xiao, Zuoping & Abdullah,, 2023. "Internal pyramid structure, judicial efficiency, firm-level governance and dividend policy," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 764-785.
    11. Gonzalez, Maximiliano & Molina, Carlos A. & Pablo, Eduardo & Rosso, John W., 2017. "The effect of ownership concentration and composition on dividends: Evidence from Latin America," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 1-18.
    12. Youssef Saida, 2021. "Predicting the Virtual Financial Communication Content: A Discriminant Analysis Applied on Small and Medium Stocks," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 13(11), pages 156-156, July.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cross-listings; Dividend policy; Emerging markets; Signaling; Insider ownership; Corporate governance;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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