Dividends have been on the headline of business news all the time. Technology companies typically pay low or no dividends since they reinvest cash flows in research and development to fund future growth. However, as many technology companies mature (e.g. Microsoft, Dell, Cisco, Oracle, Intel) and build large cash balances, these companies may begin to develop a policy of paying dividends. The tax benefits make such a policy even more attractive. Why is the government considering a tax cut on dividends? What typically happens to a firm's value when it increases its dividend? What would you expect to happen for a high-tech firm such as Microsoft?