If firms adjust their capital structures toward targets, and if there are adverse selection costs associated with asymmetric information, how and when do firms adjust their capital structures? We suggest a financing needs-induced adjustment framework to examine the dynamic process by which firms adjust their capital structures. We find that most adjustments occur when firms have above-target (below-target) debt with a financial surplus (deficit). These results suggest that firms move toward the target capital structure when they face a financial deficit/surplus-but not in the manner hypothesized by the traditional pecking order theory. Copyright (c) 2008 The American Finance Association.
We find that firms with gender/racial diversity in their boards are more likely to pay larger dividends than firms with non-diverse boards. Our results suggest that board diversity has a significant impact on dividend payout policy. The impact of board diversity on dividend payout policy is particularly conspicuous for firms with potentially greater agency problems of free cash flow, suggesting that a diverse board helps to mitigate the free cash flow problem. Our findings are consistent with the argument that board diversity enhances the monitoring function of directors and shareholder-manager conflict resolution for the benefit of shareholders.
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