Building entrepreneurial capacity in rural areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 903-918
Author(s):  
Anna Krakowiak-Bal ◽  
Urszula Ziemianczyk ◽  
Andrzej Wozniak
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Important Criterion ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Ahp Method ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to verify the development of economic activities in rural areas in terms of their public infrastructural equipment. Design/methodology/approach As a case study, the Polish rural areas were selected. A two-stage survey was conducted in 2015. The first stage involved entrepreneurs from rural areas. The second stage of survey was data collection for rural areas regarding economic activity and infrastructural equipment. In total, 121 objects (communes) were selected. The multicriteria analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used for the analysis. Findings The results demonstrate that for each kind of business, communication accessibility is the most important criterion. By contrast, environmental awareness and concern for the environment is the least important element for pursuit of the economic activity in rural areas. Research limitations/implications Limitations are connected mainly with the applied AHP method. The number of the comparable elements at the same hierarchy level is limited due to practical purposes. In addition, an assumption of full comparability of elements (criteria and alternatives) in the hierarchy model can be discussed. Furthermore, data quality and availability limit the scope of the empirical work. This study is a major simplification of reality modeling, but it gives practical benefits by simplifying the decision support procedure. Practical implications The findings of this paper contribute to the advancing theory of local development, with public infrastructure being one of its basic elements (factor of production). This paper explores the importance of physical infrastructure for different economic activities, and thus offers theoretical insights in two areas. First, this paper indicates the uneven weight of each infrastructure element for the various business sectors. Second, based on the collected data, this study also contributes to the literature, by using the AHP method to explore the relationships between infrastructural equipment and economic activity in rural areas. As the practical implication for local and regional development policies, this study indicates, that the most important criterion for each kind of economic activity is communication accessibility. This kind of public investment should be undertaken primarily to support entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas. Originality/value The uniqueness of the method lies in assumption about the uneven weights of infrastructure elements and therefore their impact on the process of ranking the objects (rural areas). The weight of individual infrastructure elements will vary depending on the kind of economic activity; therefore, the way of ordering will also be different for each economic activity.

scholarly journals Tourism development, entrepreneurship and women's empowerment – Focus on Serbian countryside

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Darko B. Vukovic ◽  
Marko Petrovic ◽  
Moinak Maiti ◽  
Aleksandra Vujko
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Women's Empowerment ◽  
Women’S Empowerment ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Local Character ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe starting premise of this study is that women's empowerment is the goal for self-realization and that the support that comes from local tourism stakeholders represents an adequate base. In many rural areas, women have established self-help groups (SHGs), which facilitate the interaction with a wide range of stakeholders. The objective of this paper is to investigate the effects of SHGs on female entrepreneurship and self-employment in tourism.Design/methodology/approachTo examine the research question, this study adopted a quantitative research that included a sample of 513 women in a less-advanced rural area in Serbia. For the data analysis, the generalized linear regression model (GLM) was used.FindingsAccording to the results, self-employment is the leading goal of women's empowerment.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitation in the research and the authors’ suggestion for future research is to increase the sample size of female respondents, so examination of their attitudes and role in the travel business in their local settings might reach higher significance. The second issue that the authors would like to point out is a highly local character of our study, so the future research should involve other rural areas in the country and from abroad (e.g. similar undeveloped countryside with noticeable, active women's role in local entrepreneurship).Practical implicationsThe most important practical implications of this paper are twofold: (1) the results of the research have shown that the tourist potential of rural areas can be enhanced through local tourism stakeholders' support; (2) women without professional interest or jobs in rural areas, especially in the areas where the population is traditionally dominated by men (husband/brother/father), have a chance to earn and to be economically more independent. This research can affect future studies to investigate other aspects of empowerment depending on the difference of regions, from one side, and also alternative opportunities for tourism and local development in less-advanced rural areas, from another side.Originality/valueThe study analyzes the tourism potential of the rural areas (which are less advanced and mostly very poor in developing countries, such as Serbia). In this case, there are opportunities to increase employment, social inclusion of women, development of new tourism strategies, implementation of destination marketing, etc. Moreover, it contributes to future research in the field of stakeholders in tourism strategies.

Cities will be South Africa's key vote battlegrounds

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Social Spending ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Court Ruling ◽  
Tax Base ◽  
Electoral Roll ◽  
Municipal Elections ◽  
Content Type

Subject Outlook for municipal elections in South Africa. Significance Municipal elections are due between May 18 and August 16. Last November, a Constitutional Court ruling stated that voters' postal addresses must accompany entries on the electoral roll in order to prevent irregularities. It has already forced several by-elections to be annulled and will likely cause difficulties for the upcoming polls. Impacts Policies pursued by municipalities will prove nationally significant -- since the eight largest account for 59% of total economic activity. If it experiences major losses in cities, the ANC may shore up its base by prioritising social spending in rural areas. Urban voters are more likely than rural ones to be aggrieved by fiscal leakage because they make a larger contribution to the tax base.

scholarly journals The Investment Attractiveness of Economic Activities in the Regions of Ukraine

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (520) ◽  
pp. 169-174
Author(s):  
O. V. Nechyporuk ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Public Investment ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
The State ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
State Budget ◽  
Correlation And Regression Analysis ◽  
Methodical Approach ◽  
The Impact

The article is aimed at studying the investment attractiveness of types of economic activity in the regions of Ukraine, determining the impact of factor values (of types of economic activity) on the volume of products sold. As a result of the study, a methodical approach to the analysis and determination of investment attractiveness of types of economic activity in the regions of Ukraine is developed; the influence of factor values (of types of economic activity) on the volume of products sold is determined, the main ones are distinguished by means of correlation analysis and the significance of the selected factors of influence is checked using regression analysis. For the analysis, data was formed on the basis of official data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. To obtain more accurate summary results, the data was normalized in order to convert the values of signs in the input vector to a certain specified range. After the normalization, summary data for correlation and regression analysis were computed. On the basis of the carried out analysis, the economic-mathematical models of influence of investment instruments of the State budget on types of economic activity and a model of influence of investment instruments of foreign direct investment on types of economic activity in the regions of Ukraine were built. The investment attractiveness of certain regions for public investment and for foreign investments is substantiated. Prospects for further research in this direction are the analysis of the impact of other factors on the investment attractiveness of a particular region and Ukraine in general.

scholarly journals Trademark potential increase and entrepreneurship rural development: A case study of Southern Transylvania, Romania

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. e0245044
Author(s):  
Daniel Stefan ◽  
Valentina Vasile ◽  
Maria-Alexandra Popa ◽  
Anca Cristea ◽  
Elena Bunduchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Cultural Consumption ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Strategic Development ◽  
Intangible Heritage ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
Hierarchy Process

Cultural heritage capitalization in rural areas redefines the local development model. Thus, heritage tourism has become the engine of economic activities diversification. This study aims to identify a decision-making-model substantiating algorithm in order to support the local heritage capitalization (lesser known on the international cultural consumption market), based on three types of qualitative researches, and the improved Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. In case of lesser known heritage, trademark potential and international cultural tourism route for heritage capitalization are smart choices for the innovative local hub development. The developed AHP version allows for a broader investigation of the characteristics that can lead to a trademark associated development based on integrated and innovative tourism products. To substantiate our approach and validate the model, we conducted a pilot study on a geographic area (Southern Transylvania, Romania), slightly exploited from the perspective of heritage potential, and characterized by a combination of heritage assets. The study’s results can be used by local authorities as a foundation for sound and strategic development of the area with economic potential from tangible and intangible heritage (re)interpretation.

Predatory army will stifle east Libya economy

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Public Institutions ◽  
Bank Failures ◽  
Economic Governance ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Issues ◽  
National Budget ◽  
Oil Revenues

Subject Eastern economy. Significance Discussion of economic issues in Libya generally focuses on the national and macroeconomic picture, and economic governance in the capital, Tripoli. However, the self-proclaimed governing authorities in Beida and Tobruk, plus Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army (LNA), and associated armed groups, also seek to control and raise revenues from a range of formal and informal economic activities. This has included predatory economic activity and profiteering. Impacts Haftar and the LNA will press on for greater allocations from the national budget for public institutions and employees in eastern Libya. Smuggling and migrant trafficking will be lucrative sources of income for the LNA. Circulation of increased oil revenues will reduce the risk of Libyan bank failures.

scholarly journals Multidimensional research about oleotourism attraction from the demand point of view

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 114-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Ruiz Guerra ◽  
Valentin Molina ◽  
José Manuel Quesada
Keyword(s):  
Olive Oil ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Opportunity To Learn ◽  
Food Product ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Experimental Point ◽  
Content Type

PurposeExperimental tourism can be understood as a new trend in tourist demand. Tourists want to experiment with lifestyles in different places. The information society shows how and where the best products are cultivated and is linked to how the quality of life should be. Nowadays, we are intended to know more and better things, both tangible and intangible, and new technologies show them to us immediately. One intends to live these opportunities as soon as they can.Design/methodology/approachFrom the experimental point of view Olive Oil Tourism (Oleotourism) emerges from the olive oil consumer’s interest in learning about the production process, so they can discover a lifestyle associated to this product. This research begins with an exploration of tourists’ motivations. Then, focusing on these consumers, this work has different targets: first, to assess how consumers perceive intangible aspects of olive oil and, second, to forecast the potential demand for oleotourism.FindingsThe development of tourism is the result of tourist entrepreneurs that react to the pre-existing demand/opportunity by identifying it in the tourist market.Research limitations/implicationsThe consumer’s experience is important, but touristic trends are changing. The importance of olive oil may grow in the future because the nutrition benefits are known by all countries. The natural experience around olive oil will drive it to other stakeholders.Practical implicationsIt is very early to recognize if the olive oil tourism industry is economically interesting, and whether innovative offers can be created based in olive oil and the lifestyle in rural areas.Social implicationsThe local development around olive oil tourism could be a potential complement with the principal activities, which are usually agricultural activities, farmer interests and local and historical heritage. This is a means to foresee the plausible impacts of the development of oleotourism on tourist destinations, for which oleotourism might become a competitive advantage based on an agri-food product with many intangible profits: olive oil.Originality/valueThis is the first opportunity to learn about the personal interest of the consumer regarding olive oil. They give us the opportunity to know if the institutional offer about new destinations based on olive oil tourism will have a chance or will it be an economic complement with the principal activities.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF LOCAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AS ELEMENTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED CITIES

2021 ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Daniel Budzeń ◽  
Andrzej Sobczyk
Keyword(s):  
Economic Activity ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Normalization Method ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Endogenous Factor ◽  
The Individual

The concept of local development factors has gained in importance in the context of the reduction of existing resources, especially financial ones. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate localized economic activity as an endogenous factor in the development of small and medium-sized cities. Therefore, the individual sources of income of residents were examined on the basis of the data submitted with their tax declarations. The study covered the years 2016-2018, and included 255 small and medium-sized Polish cities that are revealing a depletion of their socio-economic functions. In order to assess local economic activities, the normalization method was used to compare the cities in terms of their potential. The results thus obtained allow for conclusions to be drawn on the importance of various sources of revenue to the development of cities, and are complementary to the analyses carried out so far in this area.

The transparency construct in corporate marketing

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (9/10) ◽  
pp. 1503-1509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shirley R. Leitch
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Research ◽  
Practical Implication ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Marketing Theory ◽  
Marketing Practice ◽  
Corporate Marketing ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose The centrality of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the corporate marketing perspective serves as a point of differentiation for the field within the broader marketing discipline. Currently, there is a lack of clarity around the ‘transparency’ construct, which is an integral if ill-defined dimension of ethics and CSR in marketing. A shared understanding of the transparency construct is thus a significant gap within corporate marketing theory. Addressing that gap is the purpose of this paper. Design/methodology/approach The approach in this paper is conceptual. In developing a detailed definition of transparency, the paper draws on core papers in corporate marketing theory as well as organisational transparency. Findings Rawlins’ (2009) multi-layered definition of the transparency construct is identified as appropriate for adoption in the corporate marketing context. Each of the six layers of his definition is analysed to understand what is implied and what the application of the construct means for corporate marketing practice. The implications are that the application of transparency in corporate marketing requires that a positive and proactive approach to information-sharing is adopted; the default position is to share information with stakeholders; both good and bad news are shared; the criteria – accuracy, timeliness, balance and unequivocality – are applied to all information prior to releases; an organisation commits to empowering stakeholders; and there is recognition of an obligation to account to stakeholders. Research limitations/implication The paper is conceptual in nature and does not apply the definition of the transparency construct to empirical data. It is likely that empirical research will lead to further refinements and amendments. The paper should therefore be considered as a starting point for this empirical work. Practical implication The paper provides a detailed definition of the transparency construct, which includes a discussion of what the application of the transparency construct implies and what it means for the practice of corporate marketing. The definition and its practical application are summarised in table form as a guide for both researchers and practitioners of corporate marketing. The table may serve as a guide for evaluating current organisational performance and for embedding transparency in corporate marketing practice. Originality/value This study appears to be the first paper to address the gap in the corporate marketing literature in relation to the transparency construct. This conceptual paper therefore provides a foundation for further empirical research into the application of the transparency construct in corporate marketing.

scholarly journals Rural entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship in the rural – between place and space

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steffen Korsgaard ◽  
Sabine Müller ◽  
Hanne Wittorff Tanvig
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Economic Development ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ideal Types ◽  
Place And Space ◽  
Spatial Concept ◽  
Rural Entrepreneurship ◽  
New Research ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how rural entrepreneurship engages with place and space. It explores the concept of “rural” as a socio-spatial concept in rural entrepreneurship and illustrates the importance of distinguishing between ideal types of rural entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses concepts from human geography to develop two ideal types of entrepreneurship in rural areas. Ideal types constitute powerful heuristics for research and are used here to review and link existing literature on rural entrepreneurship and rural development as well as to develop new research avenues. Findings – Two ideal types are developed: first, entrepreneurship in the rural and second, rural entrepreneurship. The former represents entrepreneurial activities with limited embeddedness enacting a profit-oriented and mobile logic of space. The latter represents entrepreneurial activities that leverage local resources to re-connect place to space. While both types contribute to local development, the latter holds the potential for an optimized use of the resources in the rural area, and these ventures are unlikely to relocate even if economic rationality would suggest it. Research limitations/implications – The conceptual distinction allows for engaging more deeply with the diversity of entrepreneurial activities in rural areas. It increases our understanding of localized entrepreneurial processes and their impact on local economic development. Originality/value – This study contributes to the understanding of the localized processes of entrepreneurship and how these processes are enabled and constrained by the immediate context or “place”. The paper weaves space and place in order to show the importance of context for entrepreneurship, which responds to the recent calls for contextualizing entrepreneurship research and theories. In addition ideal types can be a useful device for further research and serve as a platform for developing rural policies.

scholarly journals Landscape and Tourism as Tools for Local Development in Mid-Mountain Rural Areas in the Southeast of Spain (Castilla-La Mancha)

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Cebrián Abellán ◽  
Carmen García Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Development ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Tertiary Sector ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Leading Role ◽  
La Mancha

The modernization of economic activities in mountain areas is conditioned by the physical characteristics of the territory, the weight of activities related to the primary sector, infrastructure deficits, low population density, as well as the declining and ageing population. The response to this situation has involved implementing a certain degree of functional diversification. One of the aspects that has assisted in the expansion of the tertiary sector is leisure and recreational activities. Rural tourism in European mid-mountain regions has emerged as a key element, supported by local development strategies and changing preferences in demand. In the tourism industry, the resources are the raw material, in which landscape plays a leading role. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the landscape as a heritage and a tourism resource, focusing on its capacity to reactivate depressed rural areas of inland Spain (mid-mountain areas in the southeast of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha). The study is based on opinions provided by tourists and uses a directed survey as an analytical tool. The results highlight the key role of landscape, especially natural landscape, in the use of such areas for tourism. This, in turn, underlines the need for a greater focus on organizing how the landscape is utilized.

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