External finance and dividend policy: a twist by financial constraints. (17th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: He, Zhong; Chen, Xiaoyan; Huang, Wei; Pan, Rulu; Shi, Jing
• Editors: Smith, Tom
• Is Part Of: Accounting and finance. Volume 56:Number 4(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 935
• Page End: 959
• Publication Date: 2016-10-17
• Subjects: External finance -- Dividend policy -- Financial constraint; Accounting -- Periodicals; Finance -- Periodicals; 657.05
• DOI: 10.1111/acfi.12245
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0810-5391

Abstract

Abstract: This study assesses distorting effect of financial constraints on the inverse relationship between internal and external finance by examining impact of an exogenous financing shock (i.e. a regulation released in China in 2008) on dividend policies in a quasi‐natural experimental setting. Our result shows that in the absence of the regulation, the inverse relationship holds. However, the relation is twisted by the 2008 regulation. Compared with unconstrained firms, financially constrained firms are more willing to pay dividends and are more restrained to reduce cash dividends after the regulation, despite the fact that their external financing capacities are further constrained.