Social capital and its effect on business performance in the Nigeria informal sector

Abstract This study was aimed at investigating the effect of internal and external social capital on the financial and non-financial performance of businesses in the Nigerian informal sector. The study further investigated the controlling role of firm age. A cross-sectional survey of 650 informal business owners in the Ikeja region of Lagos state, Nigeria was carried out. The analysis was carried out using the partial least square method of the structural equation model (SEM). Findings revealed that without the controlling variable of firm age, social capital had a significant effect on business performance, internal social capital had a significant effect on non-financial performance, it, however, had no significant effect on financial performance, while external social capital had no significant effect on financial and non-financial performance. With the controlling variable of firm age, social capital had a significant effect on business performance, internal social capital had a significant effect on financial and non-financial performance, while external social capital had no significant effect on financial and non-performance. The study, therefore, recommended that informal entrepreneurs take advantage of their internal social capital resources and also try to build their external social capital as they may become vital for their business success.