The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the relationship between relational capital (RC) and firm performance, by investigating the moderation effect of firm size and its key role in defining conditions for competitive advantage.,The paper uses the interpretative lens of the resource dependence theory, and refreshes consolidated studies rooted in RC. It identifies a set of variables to measure the influence of RC on firm performance, including the cost of goods sold, interest expenses and earnings per share. Content analysis was used to capture specific features of corporate disclosure tools using 51 items pertinent to RC. The authors used a specific disclosure index drawing on data collected from 73 listed firms in France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Data covering the period from 2011 to 2013 were analyzed using six regression models.,Firm size has a moderating effect on the relationship between RC and some variables linked to firm performance.,The study combines an internal and external perspective to investigate the interplay between firms and market environments, and therefore, enriches the ongoing debate concerning the relationship between RC and firm performance. It outlines possible ways through which RC can become an effective source of competitive advantage.

中文翻译：

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公司规模对关系资本和公司绩效的调节作用

本文的目的是通过调查公司规模的调节作用及其在定义竞争优势条件中的关键作用，为有关关系资本（RC）与公司绩效之间关系的辩论不断发展作出贡献。的资源依赖理论的镜头，并刷新了根植于RC的综合研究。它确定了一组变量来衡量RC对公司绩效的影响，包括出售商品的成本，利息支出和每股收益。内容分析用于捕获企业披露工具的特定功能，其中使用了与RC相关的51个项目。作者根据从法国，德国，意大利和英国的73家上市公司收集的数据使用了特定的披露指数。使用六个回归模型分析了2011年至2013年的数据。公司规模对RC和与公司绩效相关的一些变量之间的关系有调节作用。该研究结合了内部和外部视角来研究公司之间的相互作用和市场环境，因此丰富了有关RC和公司绩效之间关系的持续辩论。它概述了RC可以成为竞争优势的有效来源的可能方法。丰富了有关RC与公司​​绩效之间关系的持续辩论。它概述了RC可以成为竞争优势的有效来源的可能方法。丰富了有关RC与公司​​绩效之间关系的持续辩论。它概述了RC可以成为竞争优势的有效来源的可能方法。