The general model specified for this analysis is represented by a single-equation crosssectional regression between dividend payouts and a set of variables related to
Rozeff’s (1982) trade-off argument. This trade-off is between the marginal benefits of
dividend payouts (a reduction in agency costs) and respective marginal costs (an
increase in the so-called "transaction costs"). "Transaction costs" here relate to the
direct or indirect costs of external equity financing and potential tax costs associated
with dividend payouts. Implicit is the notion that dividend policy is set up optimally
so as to minimise total agency and transaction costs1.