Skip to main content
Log in

Revisiting ISO 14001 diffusion among national terrains: panel data evidence from OECD countries and the BRIICS

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Economics and Policy Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Being one of the primary soft-voluntary environmental policy instruments, ISO 14001 has been studied from a number of diverse perspectives and disciplines. Nevertheless, it is only few assessments that have attempted to shed light on variations in the diffusion ISO 14001 certification among countries in terms of national factors and macroeconomic conditions that may stimulate relevant implementation patterns. We employ a 1999–2017 annual time-series that yields a panel dataset of 33 countries, out of which 27 are OECD countries, complemented by the BRIICS. Applying the appropriate static and dynamic econometric specifications, the EKC hypothesis is not rejected in all the cases in static and dynamic specifications. Our turning points are in all cases within the sample ranging from $20,812 to $52,023.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. For theoretical underpinnings justifying the existence of an inverted U-shape and N-shape relationships, see Halkos (2012) and Halkos (2013).

References

  • Akaike H (1974) A new look at the statistical model identification. IEEE Trans Autom Control AC 19:716–723

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Albuquerque P, Bronnenberg BJ, Corbett CJ (2007) A spatiotemporal analysis of the global diffusion of ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 certification. Manage Sci 53(3):451–468

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arellano M, Bond S (1991) Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. Rev Econ Stud 58:277–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arimura T, Hibiki A, Katayama H (2008) Is a voluntary approach an effective environmental policy instrument?—a case of environmental management systems. J Environ Econom Manage 55(3):281–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baltagi BH, Pesaran H (2007) Heterogeneity and cross section dependence in panel data models: theory and applications. J Appl Econ 22:229–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bansal P, Bogner WC (2002) Deciding on ISO 14001: economics, institutions, and context. Long Range Plan 35(3):269–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bansal P, Hunter T (2003) Strategic explanations for the early adoption of ISO 14001. J Bus Ethics 46(3):289–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basak GK, Das S (2018) Understanding cross-sectional dependence in panel data. SSRN online. Available at.

  • Bollen KA, Brand JE (2011) A general panel model with random and fixed effects: a structural equations approach. Soc Forces 89(1):1–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borsky S, Blanco E (2014) Setting one voluntary standard in a heterogeneous Europe: EMAS, corruption and stringency of environmental regulations (No. 2014–29). Working papers in economics and statistics

  • Botcheva L, Martin LL (2001) Institutional effects on state behavior: convergence and divergence. Int Stud Quart 45:1–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boys KA, Grant JH (2010) ISO 14000 standards: voluntary environmental governance as a trade facilitation strategy? Agricultural and applied economics association, AAEA, CAES, WAEA joint annual meeting, Denver, Colorado, July 25–27

  • Camarero M, Gómez E, Tamarit C (2011) Evidence of the Euro effect on trade estimating gravity equations with panel cointegration techniques. Accessible on: http://www.revecap.com/encuentros/trabajos/c/pdf/005.pdf

  • Campbell H (2005) The rise and rise of EurepGAP: European (Re) invention of colonial food relations? Int J Sociol Agric Food 13(2):6–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Daddi T, Magistrelli M, Frey M, Iraldo F (2011) Do environmental management systems improve environmental performance? Empirical evidence from Italian companies. Environ Dev Sustain 13:845–862

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daddi T, Testa F, Iraldo F, Frey M (2014) Removing and simplifying administrative costs and burdens for EMAS and ISO 14001 certified organizations: evidences from Italy. Environ Eng Manag J 13:689–698

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daddi T, Frey M, De Giacomo MR et al (2015) Macro-economic and development indexes and ISO14001 certificates: a cross national analysis. J Clean Prod 108:1239–1248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.06.091

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Danis WM, Chiaburu DS, Lyles MA (2010) The impact of managerial networking intensity and market-based strategies on firm growth during institutional upheaval: a study of small and medium-sized enterprises in a transition economy. J Int Bus Stud 41(2):287–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Oliveira OJ, Serra JR, Salgado MH (2010) Does ISO 14001 work in Brazil? J Clean Prod 18:1797–1806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas M (2001) Stakeholders and competitive advantage: the case of ISO 14001. Prod Oper Manage 10(3):343–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas MA, Montes-Sancho MJ (2011) An institutional perspective on the diffusion of international management system standards: the case of the environmental management standard ISO 14001. Bus Ethics Q 21(01):103–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delmas MA, Pekovic S (2013) Environmental standards and labour productivity: understanding the mechanisms that sustain sustainability. J Organ Behav 34:230–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Noia AE, Nicoletti M (2016) ISO certification: benefits, costs and expectations for organization. Stud Oecon Posnan 4(10):94–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • dos Santos CMG, de Oliveira A (2019) ISO 14001 and international trade. Indep J Manage Prod 10(1):22–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Driscoll JC, Kraay AC (1998) Consistent covariance matrix estimation with spatially dependent panel data. Rev Econ Stat 80:549–560

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RA (1932) Inverse probability and the use of likelihood. Math Proc Cambridge Philos Soc 28:257–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franceschini F, Galetto M, Giannı G (2004) A new forecasting model for the diffusion of ISO 9000 standard certifications in European countries. Int J Qual Reliab Manage 21(1):32–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frees EW (1995) Assessing cross-sectional correlation in panel data. J Econ 69(2):393–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freitas IMB, Iizuka M (2012) Openness to international markets and the diffusion of standards compliance in Latin America. A multi-level analysis. Res Policy 41(1):201–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentelsaz L, Garrido E, Maicas JP (2015) Incumbents, technological change and institutions: how the value of complementary resources varies across markets. Strateg Manag J 36(12):1778–1801

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fura B, Wang Q (2017) The level of socioeconomic development of EU countries and the state of ISO 14001 certification. Qual Quant 51(1):103–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede G (1980) Culture’s consequences: international differences in world-related values. Sage Publications, Beverly Hills, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Halkos G (2003) Environmental Kuznets Curve for sulfur: evidence using GMM estimation and random coefficient panel data models. Environ Dev Econ 8(4):581–601

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halkos G (2011a) Economy - environment relationship: the case of sulphur emissions. MPRA paper, 45480

  • Halkos G (2011b) Environment and economic development: determinants of an EKC hypothesis. MPRA paper, 33262

  • Halkos G (2012) Environmental pollution and economic development: explaining the existence of an environmental Kuznets curve. J Appl Econ Sci 6(18):148–159

    Google Scholar 

  • Halkos G (2013) Exploring the economy–environment relationship in the case of sulphur emissions. J Environ Plan Manage 56(2):159–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halkos G, Nomikos S (2021) Corporate social responsibility: trends in global reporting initiative standards. Econ Anal Policy 69:106–117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hausman JA (1978) Specification tests in econometrics. Econometrica 46:1251–1271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haunschild PR, Miner AS (1997) Modes of interorganizational imitation: the effects of outcome salience and uncertainty. Adm Sci Q 4(2):472–500

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He W, Liu C, Lu J, Cao J (2015) Impacts of ISO 14001 adoption on firm performance: evidence from China. China Econ Rev 32:43–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henson S, Humphrey J (2010) Understanding the complexities of private standards in global agri-food chains as they impact developing countries. J Dev Stud 46:1628–1646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heras I, Arana G (2010) Alternative models for environmental management in SMEs: the case of Ekoscan vs. ISO 14001. J Clean Prod 18:726–735

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heras-Saizarbitoria I, Boiral O (2013) ISO 9001 and ISO 14001: towards a research agenda on management system standards. Int J Manage Rev 15(1):47–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heras-Saizarbitoria I, Arana G, Boiral O (2015) Exploring the dissemination of environmental certifications in high and low polluting industries. J Clean Prod 89:50–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heras-Saizarbitoria, I., O. Boiral, E. Allur (2018) Three Decades of Dissemination of ISO 9001 and Two of ISO 14001: Looking Back and Ahead” In ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and new management standards. I Naki Heras-Saizarbitoria (Eds.). Springer, Cham. pp 1–15

  • Hikichi SE, Salgado EG, Beijo LA (2017) Characterization of dissemination of ISO 14001 in Countries and economic sectors in the Americas. J Environ Plan Manage 60(9):1554–1574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iatridis K, Kesidou E (2016) What drives substantive versus symbolic implementation of ISO 14001 in a time of economic crisis? Insights from Greek manufacturing companies. J Bus Ethics 148(4):1–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Jänicke M, Weidner H (1997) National environmental policies: a comparative study of capacity building. Springer, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • King AA, Lenox MJ, Terlaak A (2005) The strategic use of decentralized institutions: exploring certification with the ISO 14001 management standard. Acad Manag J 48:1091–1106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen B, Häversjö T (2001) Management by standards—real benefits from fashion. Scand J Manag 17:457–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Yuan C, Hafeez M, Li X (2020) ISO 14001 certification in developing countries: motivations from trade and environment. J Environ Plan Manage 63(7):1241–1265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lira S, Marcel J, Salgado EG, Beijo LA (2019) ARIMA models as an alternative to predict the diffusion of the ISO 14001 standard in Europe. J Environ Plan Manag 1–12: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2019.577721

  • Llach J, Marimon F, Bernardo M (2011) ISO 9001 diffusion analysis according to activity sectors. Ind Manag Data Syst 111:298–316. https://doi.org/10.1108/02635571111115191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Llach J, Marimon F, del Mar Alonso-Almeida M (2015) Social Accountability 8000 standard certification: analysis of worldwide diffusion. J Cleaner Prod 93:288–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maertens M, Swinnen JF (2009) Trade, standards, and poverty: evidence from Senegal. World Dev 37(1):161–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marimon F, Casadesus M, Heras IS (2006) ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards: an international diffusion model. Int J Oper Prod Manag 26(2):141–165. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570610641648

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marimon F, Llach J, Bernardo M (2011) Comparative analysis of diffusion of the ISO 14001 standard by sector of activity. J Clean Prod 19(15):1734–1744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin LL, Simmons BA (1998) Theories and empirical studies of international institutions. Int Organ 52(4):729–757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendel PJ (2001) International standardization and global governance: the spread of quality and environmental management standards. In: Hoffman A, Ventresca M (eds) Organizations, policy, and the natural environment: institutional and strategic perspectives. Stanford University Press, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller AT, Kim AB (2012) Defining economic freedom. In: Miller AT, Holmes KR, Feulner EJ (eds) Index of economic freedom. The Heritage Foundation & Wall Street Journal, Washington, pp 13–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Millo G (2018) Private returns to R&D in the presence of spillovers, revisited. J Appl Econ 34(1):155–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Minten B, Randrianarison L, Swinnen JFM (2009) Global retail chains and poor farmers: evidence from Madagascar. World Dev 37:1728–1741

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moon S, DeLeon P (2005) The patterns of institutional interaction and ISO 14001 adoptions. Comp Technol Transf Soc 3:35–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura M, Takahashi T, Vertinsky I (2001) Why Japanese firms choose to certify: a study of managerial responses to environmental issues. J Environ Econ Manage 42(1):23–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumayer E, Perkins R (2004) What explains the uneven take-up of ISO 14001 at the global level?—a panel-data analysis. Environ Plan A 36(5):823–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neumayer E, Perkins R (2005) Uneven geographies of organizational practice: explaining the cross-national transfer and diffusion of ISO 9000. Econ Geogr 81(3):237–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nishitani K (2009) An empirical study of the initial adoption of ISO 14001 in Japanese manufacturing firms. Ecol Econ 68(3):669–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orcos R, Pérez-Aradros B, Blind K (2018) Why does the diffusion of environmental management standards differ across countries? The role of formal and informal institutions in the adoption of ISO 14001. J World Bus 53(6):850–861

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozusaglam S, Robin S, Wong CY (2017) Early and late adopters of ISO 14001-type standards: revisiting the role of firm characteristics and capabilities. J Technol Transf 1:1–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Pauly L, Reich S (1997) National structures and multinational corporate behaviors. Int Organ 51(1):1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedroni P (1999) Critical values for cointegrating tests in heterogeneous panel with multiple refressors. Oxford Bull Econ Stat 9:653–678

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pedroni P (2000) Fully modified OLS for heterogeneous cointegrated panels, nonstationary panels, panel cointegration and dynamic panels 8: 93–130

  • Pedroni PL (2004) Panel cointegration: asymptotic and finite sample properties of pooled time series tests with an application to the purchasing power parity hypothesis. Econ Theory 1:597–625

    Google Scholar 

  • Peng MW (2003) Institutional transitions and strategic choices. Acad Manag Rev 28(2):275–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng MW, Wang DY, Jiang Y (2008) An institution-based view of international business strategy: a focus on emerging economies. J Int Bus Stud 39(5):920–936

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pesaran MH (2004) General diagnostic tests for cross section dependance in panels. IZA discussion papers, No. 1240

  • Ponte S (2008) Greener than thou: the political economy of fish ecolabeling and its local manifestations in South Africa. World Dev 36:159–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter ME (1990) The competitive advantage of nations. Free Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Potoski M, Prakash A (2004) Regulatory convergence in nongovernmental regimes? Cross-national variation in ISO 14001 adoption. J Polit 66(3):885–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Potoski M, Prakash A (2013) Do voluntary programs reduce pollution? examining ISO 14001’s effectiveness across countries. Policy Stud J 41:273–294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash A, Potoski M (2006a) New dependencies: FDI and the cross-country diffusion of ISO 14001 management systems. Annual conference on institutional mechanisms for industry self-regulation, February 24–25, Dartmouth College

  • Prakash A, Potoski M (2006b) Racing to the bottom? Globalization, environmental governance, and ISO 14001. Am J Polit Sci 50(2):347–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prakash A, Potoski M (2007) Investing up: FDI and the cross-country diffusion of ISO 14001 management systems. Int Stud Quart 51(3):723–744

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reardon T, Codron J-M, Busch L, Bingen J, Harris C (2001) Global change in agrifood grades and standards: agribusiness strategic responses in developing countries. Int Food Agribus Manage Rev 2:421–435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sampaio P, Saraiva P, Guimarães Rodrigues A (2011) ISO 9001 certification forecasting models. Int J Qual Reliab Manag 28:5–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarafidis V, Wansbeek T (2012) Cross-sectional dependence in panel data analysis. Econ Rev 31(5):483–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schandl H, Hatfield-Dodds S, Wiedmann T, Geschke A, Cai Y, West J, Newth D, Baynes T, Lenzen M, Owen A (2016) Decoupling global environmental pressure and economic growth: scenarios for energy use, materials use and carbon emissions. J Clean Prod 132:45–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz G (1978) Estimating the dimension of a model. Ann Stat 6:461–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi P, Elango B (1999) The influence of ‘‘country of origin’’ on multinational corporation strategy: a conceptual framework. J Int Manag 5(4):285–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephan FF (1934) Sampling errors and interpretations of social data ordered in time and space. J Am Stat Assoc 29:165–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokey NL (1998) Are there limits to growth? Int Econ Rev 39:1–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Testa F, Rizzi F, Daddi T, Gusmerotti NM, Frey M, Iraldo F (2014) EMAS and ISO 14001: the differences in effectively improving environmental performance. J Clean Prod 68:165–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tews K, Busch PO, Jörgens H (2003) The diffusion of new environmental policy instruments. Eur J Polit Res 42(4):569–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tews K (2005) The diffusion of environmental policy innovations: cornerstones of an analytical framework. Eur Environ 15(2):63–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • To WM, Lee PKC (2014) Diffusion of ISO 14001 environmental management system: global, regional and country-level analyses. J Clean Prod 66:489–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torres-Reyna O (2007) Panel data analysis fixed and random effects using stata (v. 4.2). Princeton University

  • UNIDO (2012) ISO 9001—its relevance and impact in Asian developing economies. UNIDO, Vienna

    Google Scholar 

  • Vandergeest P (2007) Certification and communities: alternatives for regulating the environmental and social impacts of Shrimp Farming. World Dev 35:1152–1171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vastag G (2004) Revisiting ISO 14000 diffusion: a new “look” at the drivers of certification. Prod Oper Manage 13(3):260–267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Welch EW, Mori Y, Aoyagi-Usui M (2002) Voluntary adoption of ISO 14001 in Japan: mechanisms, stages and effects. Bus Strat Environ 11(1):43–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westerlund J (2007) Testing for error correction in panel data. Oxford Bull Econ Stat 9:709–748

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedmann TO, Schandl H, Lenzen M, Moran D, Suh S, West J, Kanemoto K (2015) The material footprint of nations. Proc Natl Acad Sci 112(20):6271–6276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu SY, Chu PY, Liu TY (2007) Determinants of a firm’s ISO 14001 certification: an empirical study of Taiwan. Pac Econ Rev 12(4):467–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang W, Wang W, Wang S (2014) Environmental performance evaluation of implementing EMS (ISO 14001) in the coating industry: case study of a Shanghai coating firm. J Clean Prod 64:205–217

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Co-Editor Professor Shunsuke Managi and the reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments and recommendations. Any remaining errors are solely the authors’ responsibility.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to George Halkos.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Halkos, G., Nomikos, S. & Skouloudis, A. Revisiting ISO 14001 diffusion among national terrains: panel data evidence from OECD countries and the BRIICS. Environ Econ Policy Stud 23, 781–803 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10018-021-00301-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10018-021-00301-1

Keywords

Navigation