Trust is used here in this third sense, as a social relationship in which principals-for whatever reason or state of mind-invest resources, authority, or responsibility in another to act on their behalf for some uncertain future return. Common networks of social relations shared by principal and agent may provide a sufficient incentive for trust-but not a necessary one. In order to understand the various ways in which embeddedness penetrates these trust relationships, it is necessary to take a sustained look at both the sources of agency in complex societies and principals' responses to uncertainty.

DEFINE: Defines trust as a principal-agent investment relationship with uncertain future return, distinguishing it from mere shared social networks.

Shapiro, Susan P., The Social Control of Imper…, loc. 17