Resilience Factors of Entrepreneurship Amid Economic Crisis: Evidence from Lebanon

Abstract This study examines how key resilience factors are associated with the ability of Lebanese SMEs and entrepreneurs to withstand and adapt during Lebanon’s severe economic crisis. Using survey data from 66 companies, we analyze the relationships between strategies, support, and ecosystem actors amid prolonged instability. Our analysis reveals that proactive strategic orientations and targeted ecosystem support are positively associated with the resilience of businesses. In addition, the study identifies the main forms and sources of external assistance associated with the survival and growth of SMEs in a context of institutional fragility. By situating these findings within existing frameworks, our paper provides empirical insights relevant to research on SME resilience, strategic orientation, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study contributes to the understanding of entrepreneurial responses to multiple shocks in emerging markets and offers avenues for policy interventions aimed at supporting the resilience of SMEs in a context of extreme uncertainty.