Rural Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in Northern Regions of Iran: Key Pillars and Drivers

The concept of rural entrepreneurship ecosystems has attracted significant attention among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers during the past decade. However, the research concerning rural entrepreneurship ecosystem has been largely focused on empirics from developed regions. In this study, in order to explain the drivers of rural entrepreneurship ecosystem in a developing region, the data was collected from ۱۰۳ rural entrepreneurship practitioners through a survey in northern area of Iran. The data was then analyzed using the exploratory factor analysis method. The research team considered the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem supporters in three pillars: policy-making, institution, and society. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, each triple supporter pillar of the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem was divided into two components. The components extracted from the policy pillar included "rules and regulations" and "infrastructure." The components extracted from the institutional pillar included "networking and informing" as well as "services and support." In addition, "tendencies and characteristics of the people" and "financial participation" were assumed as the society components. These results were discussed and provided agenda for future practical and professional works.

کلیدواژه ها:

Developing regions ، Exploratory factor analysis ، Policy Making