This study examines the significance and implications of Dividend Reinvestment Plans (DRPs) for the sponsoring company and for the shareholders' wealth from a theoretical and an empirical point of view. It develops a DRP theory, as an extension of dividend and capital structure theories....

This thesis first outlines the main theoretical approaches to the consumption function, such as the Absolute Income Hypothesis, the Relative Income Hypothesis, the Life-Cycle Hypothesis and the Permanent Income Hypothesis. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of expectations for consumption...