Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the catering incentives of dividends can
influence firms’ dividend payment decisions in Thailand.
Design/methodology/approach – The sample includes all listed stocks in the Stock Exchange of
Thailand during the years 1992-2009, excluding the firms from financial industries and firms with
incomplete information. The catering incentives are measured by dividend premium. The firms’ dividend
payment decisions are measured by propensity to pay dividends and decision to change dividends.
Findings – The findings yield qualitatively consistent with the previous research. After controlling
for the effect of the Asian Crisis during 1997-1999, the result shows that the firm’s decision to pay
dividend could be affected by the catering incentives. Furthermore, dividend premium will reduce the
probability that firms will decide to cut dividend payment from previous years.
Research limitations/implications – The result is limited to the availability of historical data.
The Stock Exchange in Thailand has been established for only 35 years. With the lack of availability
and completeness of data, the historical data could be gathered for only 18 years.
Practical implications – Investors in Thailand show their preference for dividend incomes.
This could be the catering incentive of the firm to decide to pay dividends.
Originality/value – This paper offers the evidence of catering incentives of dividend proposed by
Baker and Wurgler in the emerging market. Even though the result is not strong, it can be the evidence
supporting the catering theory of dividend, not only in well-developed markets, but also in emerging
markets such as Thailand.