{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T15:43:17Z","timestamp":1775058197182,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":37,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]],"date-time":"2023-10-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1698105600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["ARLA"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>Third-party certifications promote firms' high standards and enhance their legitimacy and reputation, potentially positively impacting their performance, namely on exports.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>This paper studies the differences in firms' export performance between firms with and without the \u201cSME Leader\u201d label, a Portuguese firm-specific label. This study data set comprises data for 5.489 SMEs, for 2014\u20132020, where 2.950 firms obtained their certification during the period and 2.539 are non-certified control firms. The methodology adopted circumvents the traditional endogeneity problems in this type of study.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The results indicate that the \u201cSME Leader\u201d label does not directly improves a firm's export performance. Additionally, industry characteristics seem relevant for the relationship between SMEs' certification and their levels of internationalization.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-subheading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>Since the study sample includes firms from all industrial sectors, this study results apply to various organizations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/arla-05-2023-0073","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,21]],"date-time":"2023-10-21T01:20:46Z","timestamp":1697851246000},"page":"553-566","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Firm certification and export performance: the case of the \u201cSME\u00a0Leader\u201d label"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"36","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9066-6441","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lu\u00eds","family":"Pacheco","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref001","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1108\/IJQRM-02-2014-0021","article-title":"Impact of ISO 9001 certification on firms financial operating performance","volume":"33","year":"2015","journal-title":"International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref002","first-page":"45","article-title":"Effects of ISO 9001 certification and KAAE on performance of Jordanian firms","volume":"6","year":"2012","journal-title":"Jordan Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref003","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","article-title":"The importance of Halal certification for the processed food by SMEs to increase export opportunities","year":"2022","DOI":"10.1051\/e3sconf\/202234800039"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref004","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jwb.2020.101094","article-title":"Environmental sustainability practices and exports: the interplay of strategy and institutions in Latin America","volume":"55","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of World Business"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref005","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.1016\/S0959-6526(02)00146-4","article-title":"Critical factors for implementing ISO 14001 standard in United States industrial companies","volume":"11","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref006","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1177\/014920639101700108","article-title":"Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage","volume":"17","year":"1991","journal-title":"Journal of Management"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.5295\/cdg.19151jc","article-title":"Repercusi\u00f3n econ\u00f3mica de la certificaci\u00f3n medioambiental ISO 14001","volume":"6","year":"2006","journal-title":"Cuadernos de Gesti\u00f3n"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref008","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"92","DOI":"10.2307\/258888","article-title":"A stakeholder framework for analyzing and evaluating corporate social performance","volume":"20","year":"1995","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"issue":"7","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref009","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1046","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.1040.0358","article-title":"The financial impact of ISO 9000 certification in the United States: an empirical analysis","volume":"51","year":"2005","journal-title":"Management Science"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref010","first-page":"1","article-title":"Barriers and incentives to the adoption of ISO 14001 by firms in the United States","volume":"11","year":"2000","journal-title":"Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref011","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1177\/02662426134866","article-title":"Environmental certification as a buffer against the liabilities of newness and smallness: firm performance benefits","volume":"33","year":"2015","journal-title":"International Small Business Journal"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref012","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.2307\/258887","article-title":"The stakeholder theory of the corporation: concepts, evidence and implications","volume":"20","year":"1995","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref013","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1504\/IJGSB.2004.005615","article-title":"Internationalisation of the family business: a longitudinal perspective","volume":"1","year":"2004","journal-title":"International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business"},{"issue":"1\/2","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref014","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1108\/02686900010304632","article-title":"The financial effects of ISO 9000 registration for Danish companies","volume":"15","year":"2000","journal-title":"Managerial Auditing Journal"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref015","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chieco.2014.11.008","article-title":"Impacts of ISO 14001 adoption on firm performance: evidence from China","volume":"32","year":"2015","journal-title":"China Economic Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref016","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2010.09.002","article-title":"ISO 14001 certification and financial performance: selection-effect versus treatment-effect","volume":"19","year":"2011","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref017","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1468-2370.2012.00334.x","article-title":"ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: towards a research agenda on management system standards","volume":"15","year":"2013","journal-title":"International Journal of Management Reviews"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref018","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2019.07.016","article-title":"Do multiple certifications leverage firm performance? A dynamic approach","volume":"218","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref019","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.2307\/258852","article-title":"Instrumental stakeholder theory: a synthesis of ethics and economics","volume":"20","year":"1995","journal-title":"Academy of Management Review"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref020","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.1162\/108819801753358526","article-title":"Does it really pay to be green? An empirical study of firm environmental and financial performance","volume":"5","year":"2001","journal-title":"Journal of Industrial Ecology"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref021","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jfbs.2010.04.001","article-title":"The internationalization of family businesses: a review of extant research","volume":"1","year":"2010","journal-title":"Journal of Family Business Strategy"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref022","first-page":"165","article-title":"The estimation of causal effects by difference-in-difference methods","volume":"4","year":"2011","journal-title":"Foundations and Trends\u00ae in Econometrics"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref023","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2020.107838","article-title":"HACCP certification in food industry: trade-offs in product safety and firm performance","volume":"231","year":"2021","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref024","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1007\/s10290-010-0062-x","article-title":"Entering new country and product markets: does export promotion help?","volume":"146","year":"2010","journal-title":"Review of World Economics"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref025","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"731","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aap.2006.11.004","article-title":"Financial performance, ISO 9000 standard and safe driving practices effects on accident rate in the US motor carrier industry","volume":"39","year":"2007","journal-title":"Accident Analysis and Prevention"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref026","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1335","DOI":"10.3390\/su14031335","article-title":"Do ISO certifications enhance internationalization? The case of Portuguese industrial SMEs","volume":"14","year":"2022","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref027","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"667","DOI":"10.5465\/AMJ.2010.0259","article-title":"A signaling theory of acquisition premiums: evidence from IPO targets","volume":"55","year":"2012","journal-title":"Academy of Management Journal"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref028","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.1111\/1475-6773.12270","article-title":"Why we should not be indifferent to specification choices for difference\u2010in\u2010differences","volume":"50","year":"2015","journal-title":"Health Services Research"},{"issue":"8","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref029","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"891","DOI":"10.1108\/02656711211270351","article-title":"ISO 9001 certification pay\u2010off: myth versus reality","volume":"29","year":"2012","journal-title":"International Journal of Quality and Reliability Management"},{"issue":"2","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref030","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intacc.2005.01.011","article-title":"The association between ISO 9000 certification and financial performance","volume":"40","year":"2005","journal-title":"The International Journal of Accounting"},{"issue":"3","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref031","first-page":"330","article-title":"The relationship between ISO 9000 and business performance: does registration really matter?","volume":"11","year":"1999","journal-title":"Journal of Managerial Issues"},{"issue":"4","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref032","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"418","DOI":"10.1016\/S1066-7938(02)00009-X","article-title":"Implementing ISO 14001: an international survey assessing the benefits of certification","volume":"9","year":"2002","journal-title":"Corporate Environmental Strategy"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref033","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"319","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2018.12.012","article-title":"ISO14001 certification and operating performance: a practice-based view","volume":"208","year":"2019","journal-title":"International Journal of Production Economics"},{"issue":"1","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref034","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusvent.2010.09.001","article-title":"Resource mobilization in entrepreneurial firms","volume":"27","year":"2012","journal-title":"Journal of Business Venturing"},{"issue":"6","key":"key2023112716074216700_ref035","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"622","DOI":"10.1108\/14777830410560700","article-title":"Impact of environmental management system implementation on financial performance. A comparison of two corporate strategies","volume":"15","year":"2004","journal-title":"Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref036","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2020.120201","article-title":"Impact of environmental labeling certification on firm performance: empirical evidence from China","volume":"255","year":"2020","journal-title":"Journal of Cleaner Production"},{"key":"key2023112716074216700_ref037","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1002\/smj.4250050207","article-title":"A resource-based view of the firm","volume":"5","year":"1984","journal-title":"Strategic Management Journal"}],"container-title":["Academia Revista Latinoamericana de Administraci\u00f3n"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/ARLA-05-2023-0073\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/ARLA-05-2023-0073\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T23:08:32Z","timestamp":1753398512000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/arla\/article\/36\/4\/553-566\/130847"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]]},"references-count":37,"journal-issue":{"issue":"4","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/ARLA-05-2023-0073"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/arla-05-2023-0073","relation":{},"ISSN":["1012-8255"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1012-8255","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,24]]}}}