Relational Norms in Interfirm Exchanges: From Transactional Cost Economics to the Service-Dominant Logic

Purpose: This article investigates the implication and importance of the service-dominant (S-D) logic to the increasingly relevant study and practice of Interorganizational relational exchange. It points out that relational exchange theory (norms) is an earlier reflection of the S-D logic. Recognizing a need for the transactional cost economics (TCE) framework to address bilateral or hybrid types of exchanges, marketing channel researchers have for over twenty years incorporated relational exchange theory (RET) and TCE to investigate problems of formal contract, environmental uncertainty, power/dependency, and opportunism. However, some theoreticians view relational modes of exchange to be broader in scope than that studied within TCE. We propose a conceptual framework that incorporates TCE constructs with S-D logic principles in order to provide a rich contemporary guide for future relational exchange research and practice.

Methodology/Approach: We first expose the essential elements of the S-D logic and describe relational exchange theory and the problems generated by TCE. Database searches reveal a continuous stream of fifty empirical studies between 1988 and 2009 in which Macneil's relational norms were operationalized in the context of interfirm exchanges. The studies are analyzed from the viewpoint of TCE and the emerging S-D logic. The empirical findings were also discussed in terms of their contribution to validating a fundamental premise of the S-D logic. Subsequently, using S-D logic's conception of operant resources, we suggest several avenues for developing questions and conducting future relational norms research.

Empirical Findings: The findings validate the fundamental assumption of S-D logic, that relational exchange is instrumental in the co-creation of value (exchange performance) whether service is rendered directly or indirectly through goods or a combination of both. Exchange performance is better when the formal contract exists within a relational context. Relational exchange is effective in contexts of both high and low environmental uncertainty, may attenuate the negative effects of power/dependency differences and mitigate opportunistic behavior.

Originality/Value/Contribution: This article is a comprehensive review of relational norms research. It links the empirical findings conducted within the combined conceptual approaches of relational exchange theory and the TCE framework. It provides a comprehensive discussion of the essentials of the S-D logic and its compatibility with previous relational norm research. It outlines an S-D logic inspired framework for future research linking operant resources (knowledge, skills, and technology) to relational norms, facilitators of service-for-service, and value co-creation in interorganizational exchange networks.     

Economic liberalisation,gender wage inequality and welfare

The article develops a 3-sector general equilibrium model appropriate for economies with female labour oriented export sector to examine the effects of economic liberalisation policies on gender based wage inequality. It is assumed that there exist disparities in efficiencies between male and female labour due to skewed access to education and health, and differences in their spending patterns leading to differential effects of respective wages on their nutrition. The results indicate that tariff cut may reduce gender wage inequality, but may have detrimental effects on welfare; while foreign capital inflow may accentuate the inequality, despite improving the welfare of the economy. However, government policies to increase the provision of education and health have favourable effects on gender wage inequality but may be welfare deteriorating. Thus, the article provides a theoretical explanation to empirical evidences of diverse effects of liberalisation on gender wage inequality and explains the possibility of a trade-off between gender inequality and social welfare.     

All you can drink: should we worry about quality?

“All you can drink” specials are forbidden by law in several places. Authorities claim that establishments tend to offer low quality drinks when they use this type of promotion. In this paper, I elaborate a model to determine whether a monopolist produces higher or lower quality goods when using buffet pricing (all you can drink) instead of a two-part tariff. I find that the more profitable strategy is usually associated with a higher quality good than the less profitable strategy. However, under certain conditions buffet pricing is more profitable and leads to lower quality goods than the alternative.      

Renewable Energy Policy Instruments and Market Power

Markets for green certificates allow generators with market power to squeeze the margins of their competitors, as a generator that is vertically integrated into network activities might do. We analyze this issue in a stylized electricity industry in which a dominant producer of both conventional and renewable energy is facing a competitive fringe of renewable‐energy producers. We demonstrate that whether or not a dominant firm is vertically integrated into network activities, it can disadvantage the fringe producers by distorting certificates prices, thereby inducing cost inefficiency in the generation of renewable energy. We compare green certificates to a system of feed‐in tariffs, where a similar margin squeeze is not possible.     

论我国应对碳关税贸易壁垒的对策——基于国际经济法基本原则视角

随着全球气候变化,发达国家以保护环境为名提出了低碳经济,实为新的贸易保护,本文从国际经济法基本原则角度分析了碳关税对发展中国家的不利影响,并提出了我国应采取的相应对策。     

对优化我国入世后关税保护结构的再思考

在以中间产品为主的国际贸易商品结构中，有效保护率更为准确地反映了关税对国内产业的保护。入世后，在履行世贸组织（WTO）协议的关税调整过程中，我国的关税有效保护结构呈现出优化的倾向，但也存在着一些问题。今后，应根据各产业部门在国际贸易中比较利益优势的动态变化对关税的有效保护结构加以完善，同时防止过度的有效保护，解决资源基础产业的负有效保护问题．避免利用高关税抑制非生活必需消费品的进口而导致的效率损失。     

产学研联盟的隐性知识转移阻碍及互惠性协调研究

产学研联盟是推动区域经济发展的重要载体。产学研联盟的相对优势在于各主体能够通过知识转移,实现知识共享。随着对知识理论的深入研究,隐性知识被视为包含着企业核心能力,是企业成长的关键资源。然而,现阶段大量研究表明产学研联盟的隐性知识转移遭遇阻碍,导致很多核心知识和关键技术难以分享,严重制约产学研联盟的发展。分析产学研联盟的隐性知识转移阻碍成因,从互惠性偏好视角探讨隐性知识转移阻碍的协调机制对于推进产学研联盟的健康、长远发展具有现实意义。     

中印经济比较与合作

我国和印度在经济结构上形成鲜明对比,我国以制造业为核心,印度靠服务业带动。跨越了制造业的印度,虽然经济发展速度不如我国,但印度的经济发展质量超过我国。我们的“世界工厂”地位其实存在许多问题,而印度制造业正快马加鞭,将挑战我国的“世界工厂”地位。我国服务业发育严重不良,我国可以从印度的发展中学到不少的经验,最重要的经验就是印度强大的服务业。中国和印度的互补性合作将创造中印双赢的局面。     

“碳关税”对我国贸易的影响及应对策略——以纺织品行业为例

文章首先介绍了"碳关税"的概念;从成本竞争优势和环境责任的被动承担两个方面介绍了实施碳关税对我国贸易的总体影响;随后介绍了"碳关税"实施对我国纺织品行业的影响;最后从政府、行业和企业三个层面提出纺织品行业应对"碳关税"的策略。     

美国反倾销贸易效应的实证分析

基于美国1998—2007年对外反倾销案的动态面板数据,应用一阶差分广义矩估计方法(SYS-GMM)考察其关税和反倾销对被诉国出口贸易和贸易份额的影响,结果表明:美国关税和反倾销措施在被诉国和被诉行业中都存在贸易破坏效应和贸易转移效应,其中,对中国反倾销的贸易效应最大;比较关税与反倾销措施对被诉国出口的影响,发现美国实施反倾销措施的贸易破坏效应和贸易转移效应远大于关税,表明反倾销措施已经成为美国取代传统关税控制进口的重要贸易政策。