Muhammad Agusalim, Moeljadi, Kusuma Ratnawati, Atim Djazuli
This study aims to examine the effect of financial literacy and networking on sustainable livelihood, with funding decisions as a mediating variable among motorized boat fishermen in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. A quantitative approach, employing survey methods, was used to collect data from 150 respondents, which were then analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that financial literacy and networking have significant direct effects on sustainable livelihood, and both variables also significantly influence funding decisions. Furthermore, funding decisions have a significant impact on sustainable livelihood and act as a mediating variable in the relationship between financial literacy and networking with sustainable livelihood. These findings suggest that enhancing financial knowledge and social capital among fishermen can improve funding strategies and strengthen livelihood sustainability. The study provides empirical support for development programs focusing on financial capacity building and community-based networking as effective tools to improve economic resilience in coastal communities. The results contribute to the theoretical discourse on sustainable livelihood and offer practical implications for policymakers and stakeholders in the fisheries sector seeking to develop inclusive, targeted, and sustainable development interventions. © 2025 The authors. This article is published by IIETA and is licensed under the CC BY 4.0 license
Doctoral Program in Management, Graduate School of Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Terbuka, Selatan, Tangerang, 15437, Indonesia
