Title: Entrepreneurship and rural development: role of street-level bureaucracy in India

Authors: Madhusudana N. Rao

Addresses: Department of Geography, Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, 02325 Massachusetts, USA

Abstract: In this study, we apply the concept of street-level bureaucracy from public management to analyse the issues relating to the implementation of a mini Hydel project in India, and draw important lessons for entrepreneurs as well as policy planners for the promotion of rural development through entrepreneurship in emerging markets in general. India|s energy policy promotes |green energy| as a renewable and eco-friendly alternative to the fast depleting conventional energy sources with a variety of fiscal and other incentives to encourage private investment in mini Hydel projects (India|s 11th five-year plan, 2002-2007: energy sector). In this paper, based on first-hand observation of one such power sector start-up in India over a three-year period, we carefully analyse the issues confronting entrepreneurs in dealing with street-level bureaucracy, and draw important lessons for entrepreneurs as well as policy planners for the promotion of entrepreneurship and rural development.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; rural development; street-level bureaucracy; hydel power; India; alternative energy; hydroelectricity; public management; policy planners; emerging markets; green energy; renewable energy; eco-friendly energy; ecological factors; ecology; conventional energy sources; fiscal incentives; private investment; five-year plans; electricity generation; water power; entrepreneurs; business; globalisation; Asia.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2011.037316

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2011 Vol.6 No.1, pp.1 - 14

Published online: 27 Sep 2014 *

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