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A Catering Theory of Dividends

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  • Malcolm Baker
  • Jeffrey Wurgler

Abstract

We develop a theory in which the decision to pay dividends is driven by investor demand. Managers cater to investors by paying dividends when investors put a stock price premium on payers and not paying when investors prefer nonpayers. To test this prediction, we construct four time series measures of the investor demand for dividend payers. By each measure, nonpayers initiate dividends when demand for payers is high. By some measures, payers omit dividends when demand is low. Further analysis confirms that the results are better explained by the catering theory than other theories of dividends.

Suggested Citation

  • Malcolm Baker & Jeffrey Wurgler, 2003. "A Catering Theory of Dividends," NBER Working Papers 9542, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:9542
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Malcolm Baker & Jeffrey Wurgler, 2006. "Investor Sentiment and the Cross‐Section of Stock Returns," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 61(4), pages 1645-1680, August.
    2. Baker, Malcolm & Wurgler, Jeffrey, 2004. "Appearing and disappearing dividends: The link to catering incentives," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2), pages 271-288, August.
    3. Lai, Richard, 2004. "A Catering Theory of Analyst Bias," MPRA Paper 4761, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Nalinaksha Bhattacharyya & Julie Ann Elston & Laura Rondi, 2011. "Agency Issues in a Family Controlled Corporate Governance Structure The Case of Italy," CERIS Working Paper 201106, CNR-IRCrES Research Institute on Sustainable Economic Growth - Torino (TO) ITALY - former Institute for Economic Research on Firms and Growth - Moncalieri (TO) ITALY.
    5. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W., 2003. "Stock market driven acquisitions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(3), pages 295-311, December.
    6. Ahmed, Hafeez & Javid, Attiya Yasmin, 2008. "The determinants of dividend policy in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 37339, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Jacob, Martin, 2010. "Taxation, Dividends, and Share Repurchases: Taking Evidence Global," Working Paper Series, Center for Fiscal Studies 2010:10, Uppsala University, Department of Economics.
    8. Ahmed, Hafeez & Javid, Attiya Yasmin, 2008. "Dynamics and determinants of dividend policy in Pakistan (evidence from Karachi stock exchange non-financial listed firms)," MPRA Paper 37342, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    JEL classification:

    • G35 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Payout Policy

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