Optimal money burning: Theory and application to corporate dividends

Bernheim, B.D. and Redding, L.S. (2001) Optimal money burning: Theory and application to corporate dividends. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 10, pp. 463-507.

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Abstract

We explore signaling behavior in settings with a discriminating activity and several costly nondiscriminating (“money-burning”) activities. Existing theory provides no basis for selecting one method of burning money over another. When senders have better information about activity costs than receivers, each sender's indifference is resolved, the taxation of a money-burning signal is potentially Pareto-improving, and the use of the taxed activity becomes more widespread as the tax rate rises. We apply this theory to dividend signaling. Its central testable implication—that an increase in the dividend tax increases the likelihood of dividend payout—is verified empirically.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:UNSPECIFIED
Authors: Bernheim, B.D., and Redding, L.S.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Economics
Journal Name:Journal of Economics and Management Strategy

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