Trust: Forms, Foundations, Functions, Failures and Figures

Trust is an elusive concept, meaning different things to different people, and so needs to be clearly defined. By focusing on relations within and between firms, this volume produces a clearer definition of trust and its role in the economy. This volume deals with a range of questions such as: what are the roles of trust? What can we trust in? Can trust serve as an instrument for the governance of relations? Is trust a substitute, a precondition or an outcome of contracts? It then goes on to analyze what trust is based on, what its limits are, how it grows and how it can also break down. The role of intermediaries is also discussed. The book goes on to argue that trust goes beyond calculative self-interest and that blind, unconditional trust is unwise. It then examines the paradox of how trust can be non-calculative and yet, not blind. The book also reveals ways to measure and model trust, its antecedents and its consequences.

Table of Contents:
Contents: Preface 1. Aims and Foundations 2. Forms 3. Foundations 4. Functions 5. Failures 6. Figures 7. Summary and Conclusions References Index

About the Author :
The late Bart Nooteboom, formerly Professor Emeritus, Tilburg University, The Netherlands

Review :
'The book is a pleasure to read, well edited, well argued, and covering much ground in only just over 200 pages. It is thoroughly introduced and has a very complete "summary and conclusions" chapter. With its extensive references and a subject and author index, it is a valuable scholarly help.' '[The book] provides a well-grounded approach to the study of trust and offers a number of ways to continue empirical work on this difficult subject.' '. . . the book is clear and engaging, targeted at an academic audience but suitable also for practitioners and general interest given some basic knowledge of organisation science and proclivity for concepts.' 'This book provides an interesting and informative account of the nature, causes and consequences of trust. . . Nooteboom has written an interesting book which has prompted this reviewer to think fruitfully about various aspects of trust. I am confident that the book will provide other readers with similar intellectual stimulation and sustenance.' '. . . it is clear that this is an important work, which, with considerable erudition, breaks new ground on a hitherto little understood aspect of economic behaviour. The fact that the book is also well written and draws upon literatures that range from psychology through to organization theory and philosophy, reinforces the indubitable intellectual contribution it makes. It deserves to be widely read and discussed.' 'In the past, the economic analysis of the firm has focused too exclusively on pecuniary considerations. While costs and revenues are vital, it is equally important not to ignore other essential elements, such as trust, that cannot be so readily traded or given a monetary value. Bart Nooteboom's work is an important corrective to mainstream opinion. He is one of the pioneers of the analysis of trust in organizations and this present volume is a wonderful and elegant addition to this literature.'