The role of social capital as a strategic resource for firms’ export performance

Аннотация

This study develops an integrated conceptual synthesis of social capital and its influence on firms’ export performance. It examines how social capital operates as a multidimensional and multi-level construct spanning individual, firm, network, and institutional contexts. The findings indicate that social capital does not directly determine export outcomes; rather, it primarily exerts its effect through the development of firm capabilities, including marketing, innovation, and dynamic capabilities, which transform relational resources into international market success. In addition, social capital plays a significant role in shaping internationalization strategies and entry mode decisions, while its effectiveness is conditioned by broader institutional environments and global network structures. The analysis also highlights that social capital is not uniformly beneficial, as overly embedded or rigid relational ties may constrain strategic flexibility and reduce firms’ ability to adapt to changing international conditions. Overall, the study concludes that export performance is best understood through a holistic framework in which social capital functions as a dynamic strategic resource that, together with firm capabilities and institutional conditions, enhances firms’ competitiveness in global markets.