How much does ownership really matter? Equity and trust relations in joint venture relationships

Received: 17 October 2005 Accepted: 17 October 2005 Online publication date: 1 December 2005 Abstract In this paper, I reaffirm the role of trust in interfirm relations and make an appeal for more cross-disciplinary work to further our insights into the functioning of important phenomena of interest such as international joint ventures. I also pose a couple of fundamental questions: (1) Is ownership overrated? That is, should we and our scholarship be so consumed with issues of ownership? (2) Is trust under-rated? In what way might we and our scholarship change if we assumed trust rather than opportunism? In what way might it change firms’ attitudes and behavior towards their partnership relations? Journal of International Business Studies (2006) 37, 4–11. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jibs.8400182