Transaction Costs and Value Creation in Global Alliances: A Relational Approach

In this paper we analyze the influence of transaction costs on the stock market reaction to global alliance formation. In particular, we analyze to what extent the stock market reacts negatively to the presence of attributes that increase motivation or coordination costs. We adopt a relational framework, analyzing the direct impact of these attributes not only on transaction costs but also on the potential synergies of the alliance and the incentives to invest in the relationship. Our results show that the stock market reacts negatively to transaction costs only in connection with free riding hazards.