Title: Using path analysis to study factors involved in entrepreneurs' success in rural areas of Iran

Authors: Ahmad Khatoonabadi, G.R. Andadeh

Addresses: Department of Rural Development, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran. ' Department of Rural Development, College of Agriculture, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract: The present study aims to identify successful rural entrepreneurs in Isfahan Province and to investigate the factors affecting their success. AHP and multi-index analyses were used. The results show that support by relatives and fellows to secure financial resources, availability of business models to follow, unmediated supply markets, and raw materials locally obtained from livestock and farm products, respectively, were found to be the most important factors in the entrepreneurs| success. The most limiting factors were: bank loans, satisfaction with previous jobs, lack of business model and reliance on own business idea, parental support, bureaucracy, present regulations and social status.

Keywords: rural entrepreneurs; success factors; multi-index analyses; analytical hierarchical analysis; AHP; factor analysis; Iran; entrepreneurship; rural development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2007.015410

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2007 Vol.1 No.4, pp.536 - 543

Published online: 15 Oct 2007 *

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