The concept of trust between public transport operators and political authorities is considered in relation to the spread of competitive tendering of local bus operators in Norway. Changes to the relations between public authorities and bus operators are discussed in terms of market structure, ownership, length of contract, predictability of contract renewal, type of relation, contract characteristics, mutual bargaining principles, the main goals of the organisations, and the guiding principles of optimisation. The old regime was based on predictability and stable personal relations. The new regime is based on handling unpredictability by using short term contracts. The transition to the new system indicates a transition from internalised normative action and relations to externalised normative relations and actions.
Abstract