| This paper examines the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and dividend policy in Jordanian listed industrial companies, where audit quality moderates, utilizing an artificial intelligence methodology to incorporate an AI-based perspective. Based on the agency and Signaling theories, the study aims to contribute to the ongoing debate about the role governance mechanisms play in determining dividend pay-out policies, especially in payout markets where ownership is highly concentrated, such as in Jordan. Based on data of industrial firms in the Amman Stock Exchange over a decade, the study uses AI-based econometric models to assess the impact of board independence, ownership concentration, and audit committee efficiency on the dividend payouts and to examine audit committee pay-out as a moderator. The findings demonstrate that stricter corporate governance mechanisms are positively related to dividends, which is consistent with the free cash flow hypothesis that dividends alleviate agency problems by reducing FCF for managerial discretion. Furthermore, the results also verify that audit quality significantly amplifies the association; the development implies that high-quality auditors contribute to financial disclosure and investor trust to strengthen the efficiency of governance in influencing dividend policies. With the use of AI-enabled analytics, the research contributes to better predictive accuracy and understanding compared to conventional methods. This study contributes to the body of research examining this topic. It increases its generalizability to other countries by using the Jordanian setting, which is characterized by different institutional structures and regulations than those of developed markets. It further expands the use of AI in corporate finance research by illustrating how AI can be used to investigate the intricate interplay between governance, auditing, and financial choice. The results have practical implications for policymakers, regulators, and corporate boards of directors for the improvement of investor protection, transparency, and long-term dividend policy in emerging market economies. |
