Trust as market-based resource: Economic value, antecedents and consequences in uncertain circumstances, London, Edward Elgar, 2005

Trust has become a very important subject in management literature as soon as the increasing complexity of technology, consumer behaviours and competition has shown the need for new theoretical approaches, that can take account of the critical importance of intangible resources in the generation of competitive advantages and economic value. Analysing the value of trust means highlighting the importance of the correlation between stakeholder relationships, the growth potential of the firm (potential value) and the size of its equity. After explaining the role of trust in the process of value creation (paragraph 2), we clarify the antecedents and consequences of trust, with particular focus on marketing literature (paragraphs 3 and 4). Finally, we suggest a conceptual framework for trust building strategies.