A Conceptual Framework for Financial Resources, Competitive Advantage and Bumiputera Micro-Business in Sarawak

Financial resources are widely recognized as an essential determinant of micro-business performance. However, empirical findings remain inconsistent, particularly among Bumiputera and underserved entrepreneurial communities where access to finance does not always translate into improved business outcomes. Recent studies suggest that competitive advantage may explain this relationship, yet evidence remains fragmented. This study reviews the literature on financial resources, competitive advantage, and micro-business performance among Bumiputera micro-entrepreneurs in Sarawak. Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, articles published between 2015 and 2026 were retrieved from major databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review reveals that financial resources positively influence business performance both directly and indirectly through competitive advantage. Nevertheless, studies focusing on micro-businesses, Bumiputera entrepreneurs, and Sarawak remain scarce. The review proposes an integrated framework that positions competitive advantage as a key mediating mechanism and outlines future research directions for entrepreneurship and regional development.

Financial resources; Competitive advantage; Micro-business performance; Resource-Based View (RBV); Bumiputera entrepreneurs.

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