... acknowledges institutional voids in informal economies, limited attention has been paid to family networks as alternative economic structures that facilitate business resilience. This study explores how financial, operational, and emotional family support sustains informal businesses in times of crisis...

... context. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertake a review of extant literature on institutional theory, institutional voids, family business and business families and examine the relevance of these theoretical constructs in relation to the institutional environment of Sub-Saharan Africa...