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The interplay of contracts and trust: untangling between- and within-dyad effects

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  • Liwen Wang

    (SAFTI - Shenzhen Audencia Financial Technology Institute)

Abstract

Purpose – Contracts and trust are two prominent governance mechanisms in buyer-supplier exchanges, yet controversy persists regarding the interplay between contracts and trust. This study provides a new perspective to understand the debate by differentiating between- from within-dyad effects of contracts–trust relationships. Design/methodology/approach – Based on survey data of 250 Chinese buyer–supplier relationships collected over two time periods, we employed two-level hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) with repeated measures to test the influence of contracts (trust) on trust (contracts) over time. Findings – We find that for major buyer–supplier exchanges, contracts and trust tend to complement each other when comparing across dyads, but they likely substitute for each other in within-dyad settings. Research limitations/implication – First, to illustrate the dynamic interactions between contracts and trust, we collected data at two time periods and assumed continuous linear relationships of time with both contracts and trust. Further research should collect multiple waves of data to explore the complex, varying changes that arise over time. Second, our findings are based on buyer–supplier relationships in China, whose unique cultural features may limit the generalizability of the results to other settings. Practical implications – Channel managers can structure exchanges by devising detailed contracts that align incentives and demonstrate commitment, which helps build trust in a relationship. Channel managers should also pay special attention to the contingency effects of their transactional and relational features. Originality – This study offers the first explicit test of the dynamic contracts–trust relationship, thereby establishing a more refined understanding of interplay between contracts and trust.

Suggested Citation

  • Liwen Wang, 2023. "The interplay of contracts and trust: untangling between- and within-dyad effects," Post-Print hal-03944358, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03944358
    DOI: 10.1108/EJM-12-2021-0934
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://audencia.hal.science/hal-03944358
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    Keywords

    trust; contracts; buyer–supplier exchanges; asset specificity; exchange history;
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