Article Contractual safeguarding of specific assets in cross-border and domestic buyer–supplier relationships Deodat Mwesiumo Department of Logistics, Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics, Norway; Møreforsking Molde AS, Norway Arnt Buvik Department of Logistics, Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics, Norway Otto Andersen Department of Management, School of Business and Law, University of Agder Kristiansand Norway, Norway Abstract Safeguarding specific investments and mitigation of potential opportunistic behaviours are among the most prominent functions of formal contracting in buyer–seller relationships. Extending the extant literature, the present study investigates the relationship between specific investments and the extent of formal contracting in cross-border and domestic relationships. Based on a sample of 156 buyer–seller relationships, the analysis shows that there is a positive association between specific investments and the extent of formal contracting. However, the emphasis on formal contracting is stronger in cross-border relationships than in the domestic ones. Interestingly, the association between specific investments and formal contracting becomes even stronger in cross- border relationships. Keywords Formal contracting, contractual safeguarding, specific investments, domestic buyer–supplier relationships, cross-border buyer–supplier relationships Corresponding author: Deodat Mwesiumo, Department of Logistics, Molde University College – Specialized University in Logistics, 6402 Molde, Norway. Email: Deodat.E.Mwesiumo@himolde.no Journal of Strategic Contracting and Negotiation 1–19 ª The Author(s) 2020 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/2055563620918866 journals.sagepub.com/home/jsc