Leveraging human and social capital for micro-entrepreneurship sustainability in Terengganu: a conceptual review

Micro-entrepreneurship is crucial in sustaining local economies, particularly in developing regions like Terengganu, Malaysia. However, micro-enterprises are constantly challenged by limited capital, poor digital readiness, and weak support networks. Drawing on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Social Capital Theory (SCT), the contribution of human and social capital was discussed, focusing on how they contribute to entrepreneurial sustainability. Employing a conceptual, systematic review based on 65 academic sources, three theoretical propositions were presented on the impact of human and social capital. Also, a conceptual framework was developed to guide future empirical research. Importantly, the study emphasizes the synergistic interaction between human and social capital, highlighting that their integration yields greater resilience and adaptability than either form of capital alone. This approach extends RBV and SCT by situating them in the context of rural micro-entrepreneurship, contributing new insights to the sustainability literature and offering practical guidance for policymakers and entrepreneurship development programs.