Small Businesses In Rural Areas Research Articles

Spatial Analysis of the Distribution of Small Businesses in the Eastern Villages of Gilan Province with Emphasis on the Tourism Sector in Mountainous Regions

The development of small businesses in rural areas as a key strategy for sustaining the population and improving the quality of life of villagers has always been a concern for many developed and developing countries. Some rural areas provide their villagers with favorable conditions for the development of businesses in order to enjoy the potential in the field of tourism. Sustainable development in these areas can be achieved with systematic attention and planning. In the present work, the spatial analysis of the distribution of small businesses in the eastern parts of Gilan Province was studied with an emphasis on tourism in mountainous regions. The study population consisted of all villages in the east part of Gilan Province, and the sample included all businesses officially supported by the Omid Entrepreneurship Fund. The research method was a descriptive analytic in which GIS software and the G statistic were used for the analysis of spatial correlation, clustering, hot and cold spots analysis and buffer zones. Finally, the results of the study showed that the spatial distribution of businesses in different economic sectors (agriculture, industry, services and tourism) were different between 2011 and 2016 in the way the cluster pattern was formed in agricultural and service activities. A cluster pattern cannot be considered in the tourism and industrial activities, but there is a random (point) pattern; in this regard, the results indicate the importance of the factor of distance between the village and the city center in the distribution of tourism businesses. In addition, the highest levels of support for businesses were in the agricultural and services sectors, while the lowest support was in industry and tourism. Finally, the results showed that the distribution of businesses in all activities was much higher in the plains and valleys as compared to the mountainous and hill areas.

Современное состояние и трудности становления туризма в сельской местности Тамбовской области

Promotion of agritourism in Russian regions is a key condition for the formation and development of this promising trend of tourism industry.
 Comprehensive elaboration of regulatory and legal framework, as well as the consolidation and the multifaceted support of the municipal and regional authorities are in need for its implementation. The article is devoted to assessing the current state and development problems of agritourism in Tambov region. Agritourism in Tambov region is at the initial stage. In the region there is a complex of natural, cultural, historical and socio-economic condi- tions for its development. However, there are a number of difficulties (legal, infrastructure and others). The state and regional programs for the domestic tourism development and support for small businesses in rural areas are the most important element for the successful development of rural tourism. The article provides an analysis of tourist potential of Tambov region and identifies the problems and prospects of domestic tourism development. The author describes possibilities of agritourism for promotion and innovative development of domestic tourism, as well as justifies the necessity of the various forms of supporting tourism destinations. Tambov is currently one of the most promising regions of Russia for investments in tourism development, especially agritourism. However, successful development of this kind of business needs not only support at the municipal level. The solution of problem of agritourism development lies at the regional level. In addition, systematic work is needed in the field of professional training in rural tourism activities. For this purpose, in the region a system of continuous education in agribusiness has been developed It includes the implementation of the project activities with school children in the field of rural tourism, professional training of bachelors of technology and organization of excursion services (Agritourism) and advanced training courses for workers of RF Ministry of Agriculture

Formation of Small Rural Business in the Republic of Belarus

The present article is devoted to the formation of small rural enterprises in the Republic of Belarus. An overview of the current state of small business is discussed, as well as its dynamic growth in the country is put forward. Next, this paper singles out the possibilities of state budget aid to the development of small-scale business in agriculture. In addition, the role of infrastructure as reliable support of small businesses in rural areas is highlighted. Finally, some prospective directions for the development of small business sector in agriculture at the national, provincial and local level are proposed.

Current situation and development of the bee-keeping sector in Hungary

Rural development has become more and more important issue in Hungary since rural areas also contribute to the efficiency of the national economy. Development of rural areas also very important issue in the European Union, which could contribute to the improvement of profitability of small family businesses, higher employment rate in rural areas as well as slow down the migration of people from rural into urban areas. Nowadays the bee-keeping– as one of the activities can provide alternative income for small businesses in rural areas– has become more and more important topic in Hungary. Bee-keeping sector provides income roughly 15 thousands families in Hungary. At the same time it takes important role in the preservation of rural landscape, traditions and their regional values. However, the sector has serious problems, as well (for instance quality issues, competitors on the market, etc.). It can be stated that the market position of Hungarian honey can be preserved through the improvement of quality assurance and product development. These developments can be carried out by the utilization of national and European Union funds.

Building capacity in workplace health promotion: the case of the Healthy Together e-learning project

The current global economic crisis poses major challenges for workplace health promotion (WHP). Activities that are not perceived to obviously and directly contribute to profits could be sacrificed. This paper argues that WHP must remain centre-stage because of the rights of workers to a healthy, safe working environment but also because of WHP's beneficial financial implications for enterprises. Capacity building for WHP can be developed even within a recessionary environment, particularly if the focus is on the wider workforce, described here as people for whom workplace health promotion may not be their primary function but who have an important role to play in health improvement in workplaces. There is a strong case for the development of the wider workforce based both on the lack of suitably qualified specialists and on the practicalities of having WHP implemented within organizations, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs make up a very significant proportion of the global economy and are identified as a priority area for action internationally. An example of an e-learning course, the Healthy Together programme, developed by a partnership of three countries, is discussed as an approach that has potential to develop capacity for WHP in the current climate. The findings of the evaluation of the Healthy Together programme indicate that there is a real potential in developing e-learning materials for training those with a brief for promoting workplace health and safety in SMEs. Although modifications in some aspects of delivery identified in the evaluation of the pilot course need to be considered, the course was well received, and was reported to be relevant to the learning needs of students, to their workplaces and specifically to small businesses in rural areas. Specific features of the e-learning approach increase its potential to address capacity building for WHP.

대규모 할인점과 경쟁에서 성공한 미국 농촌 소매업자들 경영전략

Since community growth and vitality frequently depend on local businesses and community inhabitants depend on local retailers for their daily necessities, studying small businesses in rural areas is important to community sustainability. The purpose of our research was to investigate what marketing, merchandising, customer service, or business operation strategies were being implemented by successful independent rural retailers(i.e., clothing, jewelry, floral, hardware etc.), in competition with large discount stores in the U.S.. In addition, social capital as indicated by community involvement was examined for its use as a business strategy that contributes to the success of small retailers. In-depth interviews were conducted with 27 rural retailers representing three communities within a Midwestern state. Data were content analyzed. Participants were following several of the recommended business strategies but opportunities existed to implement changes. Results are discussed in terms of key practices followed by these successful small business owners.

An Exploratory Study of Using Micro-Credit to Encourage the Setting up of Small Businesses in the Rural Sector of Malaysia

Eradicating poverty is a fundamental development challenge. Can micro-credit programmes be effective in poverty alleviation? This case study focuses on a replication of the Grameen Bank Approach (GBA) in Malaysia. It reviews access to capital in rural Malaysia, and examines Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia's membership requirements, types of loan offered, and administration; how rural women use their loans; the major characteristics of the businesses; and the motivation to set up small businesses. The objective is to identify whether providing start-up loans for small businesses in rural areas can be effective in achieving the Malaysian Government's long-term objectives. Similarities between Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia and the Grameen Bank are discussed. Suggestions are made to enhance small-business development in rural areas.

Small enterprise development: evidence from China

Since 1978 the People's Republic of China has allowed small businesses in rural areas under the title township and village enterprises (TVEs). These were intended to absorb excess rural labour and initially they used locally available agricultural and industrial raw materials. Since the 1980s TVEs have expanded dramatically and they now employ 27 per cent of the rural workforce, and contribute half China's industrial value added. This article discusses how this remarkable growth came about, and charts the rising contribution of TVEs to the rural economy, and the importance of the TVEs to the economic growth of China. The TVEs can be classified into three patterns of growth. Comparison between TVEs and state-owned enterprises shows that although TVEs have received little subsidy and financial support over the years they have higher economic efficiency.

Rural telephony, small business and regional development

In the past few years telecommunications technologies have drawn much attention as potential vehicles for revitalizing rural economies. The success of telecommunications as a catalyst for rural development hinges on the ability of small businesses to use the technological infrastructure effectively once it has been deployed. This paper explores the different ways in which small businesses can employ telecommunications technologies to enhance their operations. The impact of telecommunications technologies on local economies is also discussed. Finally, suggestions are made as to how the local telephone company can serve as a major telematics resource for small businesses in rural areas.