Does Economic Literacy Matter for Firm Performance and Competitive Advantage: A Systematic Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65820/ejems-1vol1-issue1-2025

Keywords:

Competitive Advantage, Economic Literacy, Financial Literacy, Organizational Performance, PRISMA, Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose: Economic literacy, the ability to comprehend and apply economic concepts for informed decision-making, plays a pivotal role in enhancing a firm's dynamic capability to navigate a volatile business environment and gain a competitive edge.

Methodology: The systematic review, following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, investigates the influence of economic literacy on firms' performance and competitive advantage. Utilizing specific keywords related to economic literacy, firm performance, and competitive advantage, a comprehensive search across relevant databases yielded 107 articles. Through systematic literature review techniques, 28 studies were included in the final analysis.

Results: The findings highlight a positive impact of economic literacy on firm performance, enabling organizations to set realistic goals, identify key performance indicators, and experience accelerated growth. Firms with higher degrees of economic literacy exhibit notably faster expansion rates.

Novelty and contribution: This review underscores the critical importance of economic literacy for firms striving to compete in an uncertain economic landscape. The research framework contributes to providing a deeper insight and understanding of how economic literacy serves as a strategic asset, empowering organizations to thrive amidst dynamic market conditions. The framework explicitly indicates the chain link and interplay among economic literacy on firms' performance and competitive advantage.

References

Adomako, S., & Danso, A. (2014). Financial Literacy and Firm performance: the moderating role of financial capital availability and resource flexibility. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691066.2015.1079952

Agbenyo, W., Danquah, F. O., & Shuangshuang, W. (2018). Budgeting and its effect on the financial performance of listed manufacturing firms: Evidence from manufacturing firms listed on Ghana stock exchange. Research Journal of Finance and Accounting, 9(8), 12-22.

Agung, Buchdadi & Amelia, Sholeha & Nazir, Ahmad & Mukson,. (2020). The influence of financial literacy on smes performance through access to finance and financial risk attitude as mediation variables. Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal. 24. 1-16.

Agyapong, D., & Attram, A. B. (2019). Effect of owner-manager's financial literacy on the performance of SMEs in the Cape Coast Metropolis in Ghana. Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, 9(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40497-019-0191-1

Agyei, S. K. (2018). Culture, financial literacy, and SME performance in Ghana. Cogent Economics & Finance, 6(1), 1463813. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2018.1463813

Ali, H., & Li, Y. (2021). Financial literacy, network competency, and SMEs financial performance: the moderating role of market orientation. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(10), 341-352.

Allen, F., Demirguc-Kunt, A., Klapper, L., & Peria, M. S. M. (2016). The foundations of financial inclusion: Understanding ownership and use of formal accounts. Journal of Financial Intermediation, 27, 1-30. https://doi.org/10.1596/1813-9450-6290

Arinda, C. (2019). Financial literacy and financial performance of small and medium sized enterprises in Uganda (Doctoral dissertation, Kyambogo University).

Astrini, D., & Puspitasari, R. (2022). The Impact of Financial Literacy and Financial Inclusion on the Performance of MSMEs in Bogor City. Asian Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting, 22(23), 125-131. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajeba/2022/v22i2330741

Atkinson, A. (2017). Financial education for MSMEs and potential entrepreneurs. https://doi.org/10.1787/bb2cd70c-en

Azeem, M., Ahmed, M., Haider, S., & Sajjad, M. (2021). Expanding competitive advantage through organizational culture, knowledge sharing, and organizational innovation. Technology in Society, 66, 101635. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101635

Bamiro, N. B., Zakariya, Z. B., & Nasiru, B. A. (2023). Development of halal entrepreneurship framework through a business incubator service for sustainability using PRISMA. Contemporary discourse of halal and Islamic entrepreneurship, 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-6427-7_6

Bamiro, N. B., Zakariya, Z., Raimi, L., & Thomas, Y. (2024). Unlocking the nexus: exploring the mediating and moderating dynamics of risk factors in economic literacy for organisational performance-A systematic review. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1108/jeas-12-2023-0343

Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108

Barney, J. B. (1997). Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage.

Brinckmann, J., Salomo, S., & Gemuenden, H. G. (2011). Financial management competence of founding teams and growth of new technology–based firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 35(2), 217-243. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00362.x

Buchdadi, A. D., Sholeha, A., & Ahmad, G. N. (2020). The influence of financial literacy on SMEs' performance through access to finance and financial risk attitude as mediation variables. Academy of Accounting and Financial Studies Journal, 24(5), 1-15.

Clauss, T., Kraus, S., Kallinger, F. L., Bican, P. M., Brem, A., & Kailer, N. (2021). Organizational ambidexterity and competitive advantage: The role of strategic agility in the exploration-exploitation paradox. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 6(4), 203-213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2020.07.003

Dahmen, P., & Rodríguez, E. (2014). Financial literacy and the success of small businesses: An observation from a small business development centre. Numeracy, 7(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.5038/1936-4660.7.1.3

Desiyanti, R., & Kassim, A. A. M. (2020). Financial literacy on business performance: The moderating effect of religiosity among SMEs in Sumatera, Indonesia. International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, 10(2), 87-99. https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarafms/v10-i2/7371

Do T.H., 2020. Analyzing the competitive advantages of Vietnamese seafood firms. Industry and trade magazine, 17, 102–105. [Vietnamese].

Effiong, G. W. (2021). Significance of financial literacy on business performance in Nigeria. International Digital Organization for Scientific Research Journal of Computer And Applied Sciences, 6(1), 33-39.

Eniola, A. A., & Entebang, H. (2016). Financial literacy and SME firm performance. International Journal of Research Studies in Management, 5(1), 31-43. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrsm.2015.1304

Esiebugie, U., Richard, A. T., & Emmanuel, A. L. (2018). Financial literacy and performance of small and medium-scale enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria. International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Research, 2(4), 65-79.

Farida, L., Afandi, M. F., Sularso, R. A., Suroso, I., & Putri, N. A. (2019). How financial literacy, innovation capability, and human capital affect competitive advantage and performance: Evidence from creative MSMEs. International Journal of Scientific and Technology Research, 8(11), 2300-2310.

Graña-Alvarez, R., Lopez-Valeiras, E., Gonzalez-Loureiro, M., & Coronado, F. (2022). Financial literacy in SMEs: A systematic literature review and a framework for further inquiry. Journal of Small Business Management, 62(1), 331-380. https://doi.org/10.1080/00472778.2022.2051176

Grant, R. M. (1996). Toward a knowledge‐based theory of the firm. Strategic management journal, 17(S2), 109-122. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250171110

Hazlina Ahmad, N., Ramayah, T., Wilson, C., & Kummerow, L. (2010). Is entrepreneurial competency and business success relationship contingent upon the business environment? A study of Malaysian SMEs. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 16(3), 182-203. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552551011042780

Hussain, J., Salia, S., & Karim, A. (2018). Is knowledge that powerful? Financial literacy and access to finance: An analysis of enterprises in the UK. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 25(6), 985-1003. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsbed-01-2018-0021

Hutahayan, B. (2021). The relationships between market orientation, learning orientation, financial literacy, on the knowledge, competence, innovation, and performance of small and medium textile industries in Java and Bali. Asia Pacific Management Review, 26(1), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2020.07.001

Irikefe, P. O., & Opusunju, M. I. (2021). Effect of financial literacy on the growth of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). International Journal of Research Publications, 90(1), 384-392.

Kassymova, G. K., Yuqi, F., & Bamiro, N. B. (2023). Exploring the potential of integrating local wisdom into the development of pocketbook learning media: A systematic literature review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(10), 130-151. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.10.8

Klapper, L., Lusardi, A., & Panos, G. A. (2013). Financial literacy and its consequences: Evidence from Russia during the financial crisis. Journal of Banking & Finance, 37(10), 3904-3923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.07.014

Lusardi, A., & de Bassa Scheresberg, C. (2013). Financial literacy and high-cost borrowing in the United States (No. w18969). National Bureau of Economic Research.

Marina, A., Sugeng, B., Wahyono, H., & Nirbito, J. G. (2014). Economic literacy for the basis of organizational performance improvement: evidence from Muhammadiyah Hospital Indonesia. Journal of Asian Scientific Research, 4(11), 664.

McCowage, M., & Dwyer, J. (2022). Economic Literacy: What Is It and Why Is It Important?| Bulletin–December 2022.

Nguyen H., Tran T. L. (2018). Improving competitive advantages of SMEs in TraVinh province. Journal of Finance, 694, 145–148.

Nguyen, H., Tran, T. H. M., Nguyen, T. H. Y., & Truong, D. D. (2021). The influence of competitive advantage on financial performance: A case study of SMEs in Vietnam. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(5), 335-343.

Nohong, M., ALI, M., Sohilauw, M., Sobarsyah, M., & Munir, A. (2019). Financial literacy and competitive advantage. SME strategy in reducing business risk. Revista Espacios, 40(32).

Nonaka, I., Von Krogh, G., & Voelpel, S. (2006). Organizational knowledge creation theory: Evolutionary paths and future advances. Organization studies, 27(8), 1179-1208.

Nunoo, J., & Andoh, F. K. (2011). Sustaining small and medium enterprises through financial service utilization: Does financial literacy matter?.

Pei, X. L., Guo, J. N., Wu, T. J., Zhou, W. X., & Yeh, S. P. (2020). Does the effect of customer experience on customer satisfaction create a sustainable competitive advantage? A comparative study of different shopping situations. Sustainability, 12(18), 7436. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187436

Penrose, E. T. (2009). The Theory of the Growth of the Firm. Oxford university press.

Prisca, C. (2016). Effect of financial literacy and performance SMEs: Evidence from Kenya. American-Based Research Journal, 5(11), 26-35.

Quintiliani, A., Modina, M., & Arnone, M. (2018). The role of financial literacy on financial performance of SMEs. Universal Journal of Accounting and Finance, 9(6), 1312-1321.

Remund, D. L. (2010). Financial literacy explicated: The case for a clearer definition in an increasingly complex economy. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 44(2), 276-295. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.2010.01169.x

Resmi, S., Pahlevi, R. W., & SAYEKTIET, F. (2019). Is there a pattern of relationships between financial literacy, tax literacy, business growth, and competitive advantage on creative MSMEs in Yogyakart? Journal of Advanced Management Science Vo. 7(4), 136-141. https://doi.org/10.18178/joams.7.4.136-141

Rus, R. C., Salisu, M. A., Hussain, M. M., Kamal, M. M., Hanapi, Z., Idris, M. O., ... & Kayode, B. K. (2023). Systematic review ofMalaysia's technical and vocational education (TVET) sustainability framework to increase the marketability of graduates using PRISMA. Jurnal Kejuruteraan, 6(2), 51-63. https://doi.org/10.17576/jkukm-2023-si6(2)-06

Suffari, N. F. S., & Tahir, P. R. (2021). Impact of financial literacy among small and medium enterprise owners on enterprise performance: A conceptual framework development. International Journal of Accounting, Finance and Business, 6(34), 43-49.

Szilagyi, A. D., & Holland, W. E. (1980). Changes in social density: Relationships with functional interaction and perceptions of job characteristics, role stress, and work satisfaction. Journal of Applied Psychology, 65(1), 28. https://doi.org/10.1037//0021-9010.65.1.28

Taftiyan, A., & BaghiNasab, F. (2023). Investigating the relationship between financial literacy and competitive advantage in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with emphasis on business risk reduction strategy. Journal of Development and Capital, 8(1), 167-187.

Usama, K. M., & Yusoff, W. F. (2019). The impact of financial literacy on business performance. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 3(10), 84-91.

Usama, K. M., & Yusoff, W. F. W. (2018). The relationship between entrepreneurs' financial literacy and business performance among entrepreneurs of Bauchi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, 1(1), 15-26.

Utaminingsih, S., Fajrie, N., Bamiro, N. B., & Azman, M. N. A. (2023). Teachers andstudents' perception of technology and sustainable adoption framework in the pedagogical process: A systematic review. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(12), 162-186. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.12.9

Yang, S., Ishtiaq, M., & Anwar, M. (2018). Enterprise risk management practices and firm performance, the mediating role of competitive advantage, and the moderating role of financial literacy. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 11(3), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm11030035

Downloads

Published

2025-10-18

How to Cite

Akinson, A. O., Obasanya, A., Raimi, B. O., & Oshoba, A. O. (2025). Does Economic Literacy Matter for Firm Performance and Competitive Advantage: A Systematic Review. Elicit Journal of Economics and Management Studies , 1(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.65820/ejems-1vol1-issue1-2025

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.