Antecedents and Outcomes of Exporter–Importer Relationship Quality: Synthesis, Meta-Analysis, and Directions for Further Research

The authors identify, synthesize, and evaluate antecedents, components, and outcome factors of exporter–importer relationship quality following a meta-analysis of the extant empirical studies on the subject. Using information extracted from a content analysis of 76 empirical studies, they propose and test an integrative conceptual model comprising five antecedents (i.e., opportunism, conflict, communication, distance, and adaptation) and two outcomes (i.e., relational performance and financial performance) of relationship quality (which consists of cooperation, trust, and commitment). Using structural equation modeling, the authors confirm the vast majority of the hypothesized associations between antecedent factors and relationship quality dimensions and between relationship quality dimensions and performance outcomes and verify a positive link between relational performance and financial performance. The authors conclude by offering both theoretical and managerial implications as well as directions for further research.