Dividend policy framework and bank risk-taking in Africa: do women inclusion in governance system offer new insight?

Abstract

This study examines the role of women included in governance system in explaining the impact of dividend policy framework on the risk-taking of banks, using a panel dataset of 52 African countries over the period, 2006–2020. The empirical outcome confirms that independent women on the board has a lower probability of paying dividend, reduce dividend yield and induce less risk-taking of banks while women in country-level governance position seek to protect the interest of shareholders and subsequently increase the likelihood of dividend payments and risk-taking of banks. The study found that banks that pay dividends face stricter market discipline, which in turn reduces banks' risk-taking. The study found that dividend policy framework generally acts as a complement for risk-taking when independent women are included in corporate boards while it acts as a substitute control device for banks’ risk-taking when women are included in country-level governance positions. Based on the net effects, the study found robust and strong evidence to support that the dividend policy framework reduces the risk-taking at higher level of women included in governance system.