Stakeholders of Cross-Border Trade Transactions: Two-Tier Model Concept

To conduct a cross-border transaction, participants need an exchange object (goods) and at least two direct parties (the seller and the buyer), forming the foundation of a significant exchange mechanism. Beyond the primary buyer and seller, the transaction involves intermediaries, representatives of actors, carriers, insurers, state officials, and other individuals. These stakeholders engage at various levels, ranging from international and national to regional and local communities. The authors propose a novel way to classify stakeholders based on their involvement in value-added distribution. Trading operations enable actors to gain a trading margin; many stakeholders participate in this process. One group of stakeholders contributes to shaping the “rules of the game,” establishing framework conditions and limitations for cross-border commodity exchange. Another larger group experiences the direct or indirect impact of export–import operations on their activities. This distinction among stakeholders leads the authors to develop a two-tier model for trade relations in border regions. The model differentiates between exogenous and endogenous factors influencing the dynamics of the resulting features, making it possible to examine border regions' development under the influence of cross-border trade dynamics.