Geiger, ILefaix-Durand, ASaab, SKleinaltenkamp, MBaxter, RALee, Y2012-01-312012-01-3120112011Industrial Marketing Management0019-8501https://hdl.handle.net/10292/3323Despite the established importance of buyer-seller relationships on B-to-B markets, research to determine the differential effects that keep suppliers and customers in a relationship has been scarce. Referring to transaction cost analysis, this study investigates how switching costs and relationship value as perceived by each side unfold their bonding forces in such a relationship. Based on a large scale survey among marketing/sales and purchasing managers, the study shows that relationship value has a stronger impact on intentions for relationship enhancement, search for alternatives and switch intention than switching costs for both buyers and sellers. Only with regard to relational tolerance and only for buyers do switching costs play a greater role than relationship value. Furthermore, buyers base their future relationship intentions more on the current state of the relationship than suppliers. Our results suggest that role differences must be taken into account when studying institutional arrangements in B-to-B markets.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in (see Citation). Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. The definitive version was published in (see Citation). The original publication is available at (see Publisher's Version)Buyer-seller relationshipRelationship valueSwitching costsBuyer roleSeller roleTransaction cost analysisTransaction value analysisBehavioral intentionsJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1016/j.indmarman.2011.11.013