just how common are dividend distributions? are dividends concentrated in the companies traded on the new york stock exchange, or do closely held corporations pay dividends with the same frequency and at the same rates? have dividends increased since the reduction in tax rates at the beginning of 2003? financial institutions and observers are acutely interested in these issues. search for comments on such questions at various commercial web sites as well as one or two academic journals or newsgroups.

research problem from corporate taxaion