Abstract
Migrant entrepreneurs rely on ethnic networks when formal support is limited. Existing network-based explanations give insufficient attention to the cultural commitments that sustain trust and economic adaptation. This study examined how Madurese cultural capital and Ethnic Network Activation were associated with the economic resilience of Madurese Muslim entrepreneurs in Malaysia. An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design was used. The qualitative phase involved thematic analysis of interviews with 15 participants and informed the construction of preliminary survey measures. The quantitative phase analyzed responses from 124 entrepreneurs using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression with HC3 robust standard errors. The interviews identified three cultural dimensions: harga diri as reputation-based social collateral, etos akerre as persistence and livelihood flexibility, and Etos Santri as the moral basis of trust and cooperation. The final regression model explained 52.2% of the variance in economic resilience. Pious Ethos had the largest standardized association (β = .302), followed by Ethnic Network Activation (β = .240), Madurese Pride Ethic (β = .209), and Unyielding Work Ethic (β = .176); all associations were statistically significant (p < .05). The findings suggest that cultural dispositions and ethnic networks are interdependent resources. The cross-sectional design does not support causal or mediational claims.