Corporate Governance and Dividend Policy in Emerging Markets

31 Pages Posted: 6 Oct 2005

See all articles by Todd Mitton

Todd Mitton

Brigham Young University - J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott School of Management

Abstract

In a sample of 365 firms from 19 countries, I show that firms with stronger corporate governance have higher dividend payouts, consistent with agency models of dividends. In addition, the negative relationship between dividend payouts and growth opportunities is stronger among firms with better governance. I also show that firms with stronger governance are more profitable, but that greater profitability explains only part of the higher dividend payouts. The positive relationship between corporate governance and dividend payouts is limited primarily to countries with strong investor protection, suggesting that firm-level corporate governance and country-level investor protection are complements rather than substitutes.

Keywords: Dividend policy, corporate governance, emerging markets

JEL Classification: G35, G34

Suggested Citation

Mitton, Todd, Corporate Governance and Dividend Policy in Emerging Markets. Emerging Markets Review, Vol. 5, pp. 409-426, December 2004, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=809404

Todd Mitton (Contact Author)

Brigham Young University - J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott School of Management ( email )

Provo, UT 84602
United States
801-422-1763 (Phone)

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