Social Capital, Culture, and Commitment to Sustainability Among Small‐ and Medium‐Sized Enterprises

ABSTRACT Sustainable development is gaining attention, especially among SMEs in developing countries. This paper examines how social capital mediates the relationship between cultural factors and SMEs' commitment to sustainability. The research focuses on Albanian SMEs using a quantitative approach that includes confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. The results show that social capital influences managers' sustainable behaviors. Values such as uncertainty avoidance and collectivism are activated by social capital, thus affecting SME sustainability. The study advances our understanding of SME sustainability by emphasizing cultural dimensions and the mediating role of social capital. It also contributes to sustainable entrepreneurship theory by highlighting the vital roles of SMEs, social capital, and cultural context as core elements of the sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem.