Observation and research shows that Multiple Choice for the period 1980 to 2016, aggregate dividends averaged about 30 percent of aggregate earnings. during the year 1979, about two-thirds of dividends were paid to individuals with a marginal tax rate of 15 percent or less. the largest corporations have been holding their dividends constant over the last 20 years. dividends have almost been eliminated due to increased stock repurchases. the percentage of corporations paying dividends has increased since the year 2002