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Do corporate governance mechanisms affect cash dividends? An empirical investigation of UK firms

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  • Basil Al-Najjar
  • Yacine Belghitar

Abstract

The study examines whether corporate governance mechanisms and the compliance with good governance practice are related to cash dividends. In particular, the study assesses the effect of institutional ownership and board structure on the decision to pay cash dividends. A study on UK firms is interesting because firms are expected to voluntarily structure governance mechanisms based on their own needs. We find that institutional owners positively affect cash dividend payments, suggesting that UK institutions are effective in forcing firms to disgorge cash. There is limited evidence that independent directors affect the cash dividends. The results also show that firm specifics affect the cash dividends, namely, business risk, firm size, and leverage ratio. The results are consistent across several robustness checks.

Suggested Citation

  • Basil Al-Najjar & Yacine Belghitar, 2014. "Do corporate governance mechanisms affect cash dividends? An empirical investigation of UK firms," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(4), pages 524-538, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:irapec:v:28:y:2014:i:4:p:524-538
    DOI: 10.1080/02692171.2014.884546
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kokoreva, Maria (Кокорева, Мария) & Ulugova, Aziza (Улугова, Азиза), 2015. "Corporate governance and finance company policy: a review of research [Корпоративное Управление И Политика Финансирования Компаний: Обзор Исследований]," Ekonomicheskaya Politika / Economic Policy, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, vol. 6, pages 160-170.
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    5. Tzu-Chun Sheng & Alvin Chang & Shu-Hui Lan & Shih-Cheng Li, 2020. "Analysis of the Dividend Policy Decision-Making Mechanism of Chinese and Taiwanese Lithium Battery Industries," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-16, October.

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