Dividend Policy, Agency Costs, and Earned Equity by DeAngelo, DeAngelo, and Stulz

In a well done and interesting work, DeAngelo, DeAngelo, and Stulz tie dividend policy and agency costs (particularly the free cash flow problem) together. Their main point is that if firms did not pay dividends, managers would have too much cash at their disposal.

The authors begin by asking the question "why do firms pay dividends." To answer the question they examine what would happen if