Supporting rural entrepreneurship: a review of conceptual developments from research to practice

Entrepreneurship development is increasingly seen as a promising alternative to traditional economic development, as it unlocks the potential of local citizens to create jobs and serve local tastes and markets. However, while much of the literature in entrepreneurship is dedicated to high-growth, high-tech development and its job-generating qualities, is this necessarily a good route for rural areas seeking to create jobs? Or, is rural entrepreneurship distinct from entrepreneurship as a discipline, presenting its own opportunities and challenges? This article presents a review of the literature on rural entrepreneurship, and argues that rural entrepreneurship is a distinct area of entrepreneurship research and practice, with alternative opportunities for local development that do not necessarily follow the mainstream literature.