Title: Entrepreneurship and resilience: evidence from Lebanese SMEs

Authors: Diala Kabbara; Latifa Attieh; Bahi Fatha

Addresses: Department of Economics and Management, Via San Felice 5, 27100, Italy ' University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH), 30 Meter Avenue, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq ' Department of Economics and Management, Via San Felice 5, 27100, Italy

Abstract: Increased market uncertainty and natural disasters over the past years have posed serious obstacles to the survival of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and forced many firms to seek resilience. This study aims to explore the resilience of SMEs in Lebanon in times of crisis. The study drew on resilience entrepreneurship literature and focused on the importance of the entrepreneur to absorb the external shock and survive during the crisis. A quantitative approach was adopted, and primary data was collected through a survey of Lebanese SMEs. The findings reveal that the main factors that affect the resilience of SMEs are entrepreneur self-efficacy and adaptability. The study concludes by discussing possible policy and managerial implications as well as suggested areas for future research.

Keywords: resilience; entrepreneurial self-efficacy; adaptability; small and medium enterprises; SMEs; resourcefulness; Lebanon.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2025.142892

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2025 Vol.54 No.1, pp.130 - 151

Received: 25 May 2022
Received in revised form: 22 Nov 2022
Accepted: 22 Nov 2022
Published online: 02 Dec 2024 *

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