Dividends are not only a signal about a firm's prospects under asymmetric information, but they can also act as a corporate governance device to align the management's interests with those of the shareholders. Dividend Policy and Corporate Governance is the first comprehensive volume on the relationship between dividend policy and corporate governance, and examines in detail empirical studies and current theories. Reviewing the interactions between dividend policy and other corporate governance mechanisms, it compares results for the UK and the US with those for other countries such as France, Germany, and Japan, and provides new empirical evidence on corporate governance in continental Europe and its impact on dividends. Focusing on one of the main representatives of this system, Germany, it highlights major differences between the dividend policies of German firms and those of UK or US firms. Conventional wisdom states that German dividends are lower than UK or US dividends, yet on a published-profits basis, the exact converse is true. In addition, the authors demonstrate a link between corporate control structures and dividend payouts, report evidence that the existence of a loss is an additional determinant of dividend changes, and demonstrate that the tax status of the controlling shareholder and the firm's dividend payout are not linked. The conclusions reached in this book have important implications for the current debate on corporate governance, making it invaluable for academics, finance professionals, regulators and legal advisors.

Corporate Governance: A Global Perspective provides a comprehensive introduction to corporate governance theory and practice. Covering topics such as ownership and control, boards of directors and emerging markets, this text highlights the multidisciplinary nature of corporate governance and demonstrates that there is much more to it than compliance with codes of best practice. This edition covers important issues relating to the design of capitalist systems, discussing how emerging economies such as China escaped the Financial Crisis unscathed and exploring the impact of immigration and rising inequality. Corporate Governance: A Global Perspective is suitable for undergraduate, Master's and MBA students. This newly acquired title has been thoroughly revised by Cengage to reflect the latest development in Corporate Governance, including updates to regulation and codes of best practice.