USA – Payday for Apple’s shareholders

Apple announced the other day that it will pay a dividend to its shareholders. It could have been a company communication like millions of others, but it wasn’t. There is only one Apple, a hugely successful company that hasn’t paid out a single nickel for 16 years. It is understood that the cash pile has risen to about 100 billion dollar (the GDP of Ireland stood at 180 billion in 2011). 45 billion dollar will be made available for payment over 3 years. I have 2 questions regarding this announcement, the first is economical, the second rather ethical.