Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Entrepreneurial Views and Rural Entrepreneurial Potential: Evidence from Greece

  • Published:
Journal of the Knowledge Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The recent financial crisis in Greece seems to have structured a trend towards rural renaissance. This trend might be considered a chance for rural empowerment to emerge as a ‘residual’ phenomenon drawn from a return to the periphery propensity. With a view to provide insights on such possible rural empowerment, we analyse individuals’ intentions towards entrepreneurship in rural areas. At the empirical level, we assess rural entrepreneurial potential and then we test for the factors that are conducive to it under an adopted operationalization of the n-tuple helixes approach to regional development. We employ data from two sources (micro level data from the Eurobarometer survey and contextual data from the Regional Accounts of the Hellenic Statistical Authority). Bootstrap logistic regression techniques provide robust empirical evidence of the importance of various sets of parameters including actor characteristics and actions, local community ties, civil services quality, the political environment, and the regional socio-economic structure. The predominant role of pecuniary concerns manifests the strong impact that the economic environment exerts on individuals’ views towards entrepreneurship. On the other hand, individuals seem to view crisis as a chance for the private sector to develop under less protectionism and trustworthy civil services.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The terms rural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship in the rural space are used interchangeably and refer to all (and not only to primary sector) activities.

  2. Data available by the Hellenic Statistical Authority at https://www.statistics.gr/en/statistics/agr

  3. For an analytical description of the sampling procedure and fieldwork see: https://www.gesis.org/en/eurobarometer-data-service/survey-series/standard-special-eb/sampling-and-fieldwork

References

  • Acs, Z. J., Autio, E., & Szerb, L. (2014). National systems of entrepreneurship: Measurement issues and policy implications. Research Policy, 43(3), 476–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anthopoulou, T. (2010). Rural women in local agrofood production: Between entrepreneurial initiatives and family strategies. A case study in Greece. Journal of Rural Studies 26(4), 394–403.

  • Bakas, F. E. (2017). Community resilience through entrepreneurship: The role of gender. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 11(1), 61–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Besser, T. L., & Miller, N. J. (2013). Community matters: Successful entrepreneurship in remote rural US locations. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 14(1), 15–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj, B. R. (2014). Impact of education and training on performance of women entrepreneurs. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 6(1), 38–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj, B. R. (2019). Role of knowledge management in enhancing the entrepreneurial ecosystems through corporate entrepreneurship and strategic intent in high-tech firms. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 10(4), 1831–1859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhardwaj, B. R. (2018). Can education empower women through entrepreneurial marketing: A model for upliftment of community services. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 12(1), 19–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhinekawati, R., Nelloh, L. A. M., & Abdurahman, O. (2020). The analysis of entrepreneurial intention in rural area: A case study of Bukit Peramun geosite in Indonesia. GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 28(1), 80–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bika, Z. (2011). Against the norm: The transitional symbiosis of ‘grassroots clientelism’ and ‘rural citizenship. The Sociological Review, 59(2), 348–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bitros, G. C., & Karayiannis, A. D. (2010). Entrepreneurial morality: Some indications from Greece. European Journal of International Management, 4(4), 333–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R., & Kovalainen, A. (2009). Researching small firms and entrepreneurship: Past, present and future. International Journal of Management Reviews, 11(2), 127–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Block, J., Fisch, C., & Rehan, F. (2020). Religion and entrepreneurship: A map of the field and a bibliometric analysis. Management Review Quarterly, 70(4), 591–627.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carayannis, E. G. (2008). Conceptual framework for an analysis of diversity and heterogeneity in the knowledge economy and society. In EG Carayannis, A Kaloudis, & Å Mariussen (Eds.), Diversity in the knowledge economy and society: Heterogeneity, innovation and entrepreneurship (Ch. 5, pp. 95–116). Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing, Incorporated.

  • Carayannis, E. G. (2009). Firm evolution dynamics: Towards sustainable entrepreneurship and robust competitiveness in the knowledge economy and society. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 1(3), 235–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carayannis, E. G., & Campbell, D. (2010). Triple helix, quadruple helix and quintuple helix and how do knowledge, innovation and the environment relate to each other? A proposed framework for a transdisciplinary analysis of sustainable development and social ecology. International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development, 1(1), 41–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carayannis, E. G., & Rakhmatullin, R. (2014). The quadruple/quintuple innovation helixes and smart specialization strategies for sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe and beyond. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 5(2), 212–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carayannis, E. G., & Stewart, M. R. (2014). Obsessed maniacs and clairvoyant oracles: Empirically validated patterns of entrepreneurial behavior. In Entrepreneurial Profiles of Creative Destruction (pp. 131–159). Palgrave Macmillan, London.

  • Carayannis, E. G., Barth, T. D., & Campbell, D. F. (2012). The Quintuple Helix innovation model: Global warming as a challenge and driver for innovation. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 1(1), 1–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carayannis, E. G., Grigoroudis, E., Campbell, D. F., Meissner, D., & Stamati, D. (2018). The ecosystem as helix: An exploratory theory-building study of regional co-opetitive entrepreneurial ecosystems as Quadruple/Quintuple Helix Innovation Models. R&D Management, 48(1), 148–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatzitheodoridis, F., Kontogeorgos, A., Liltsi, P., Apostolidou, I., Michailidis, A., Loizou, E., & Mattas, K. (2017). Women’s cooperatives in less favored and mountainous areas under economic instability. Agricultural Economics Review, 17(1), 63–79.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chell, E., Wicklander, D. E., Sturman, S. G., & Hoover, L. W. (2008). The entrepreneurial personality: A social construction. Routledge.

  • Clausen, T. H. (2020). The liability of rurality and new venture viability. Journal of Rural Studies, 73, 114–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cullen, J. B., Johnson, J. L., & Parboteeah, K. P. (2014). National rates of opportunity entrepreneurship activity: Insights from institutional anomie theory. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 38(4), 775–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dabson, B. (2001). Exploring policy options for a new rural America. Journal of Supporting Rural Entrepreneurship, 3(1), 35–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daskalopoulou, I., & Petrou, A. (2002). Utilising a farm typology to identify potential adopters of alternative farming activities in Greek agriculture. Journal of Rural Studies, 18(1), 95–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Souza, R. O., da Costa, W. M., da Silva Cavalcante, D. F., & de Souza, C. B. (2020). Wine production in Goiás: An analysis of rural entrepreneurship. Research, Society and Development, 9(3), 68932411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Discua Cruz, A., Hamilton, E., & Jack, S. L. (2020). Understanding entrepreneurial opportunities through metaphors: A narrative approach to theorizing family entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.1080/08985626.2020.1727089.

  • Dodd, S. D., & Gotsis, G. (2007). The interrelationships between entrepreneurship and religion. The International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 8(2), 93–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Efron, B., & Tibshirani, R. (1986). Bootstrap methods for standard errors, confidence intervals, and other measures of statistical accuracy. Statistical Science, I, 54–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elfving, J., Brännback, M., & Carsrud, A. (2009). Toward a contextual model of entrepreneurial intentions. In A. L. Carsrud & M. Brännback (Eds.), Understanding the entrepreneurial mind. (pp. 23–33). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Estay, C., Durrieu, F., & Akhter, M. (2013). Entrepreneurship: From motivation to start-up. Journal of International Entrepreneurship, 11(3), 243–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Etzkowitz, H., & Leydesdorff, L. (2000). The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of university–industry–government relations. Research Policy, 29(2), 109–123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Commission, Brussels (2019). Eurobarometer 90.3 (2018). Kantar Public [producer]. GESIS Data Archive, Cologne. ZA7489 Data file Version 1.0.0, https://doi.org/10.4232/1.13254.

  • Fafaliou, I. (2012). Students’ propensity to entrepreneurship: An exploratory study from Greece. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development 5, 4(3–4), 293–313.

  • Figueroa-Armijos, M., Dabson, B., & Johnson, T.G. (2012). Rural entrepreneurship in a time of recession. Entrepreneurship Research Journal 2(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/2157-5665.1044

  • Galani-Moutafi, V. (2013). Rural space (re)produced–practices, performances and visions: A case study from an Aegean island. Journal of Rural Studies, 32, 103–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gidarakou, I. (2015). Women’s entrepreneurship in rural Greece. International Journal of Business and Management, 10(10), 129–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilad, B., & Levine, P. (1986). A behavioral model of entrepreneurial supply. Journal of Small Business Management, 24(4), 45–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gkartzios, M. (2013). ‘Leaving Athens’: Narratives of counterurbanisation in times of crisis. Journal of Rural Studies, 32, 158–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gujarati, D. N. (1995). Basic econometrics. (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrell, F. E. (2015). Regression modeling strategies. Springer Series in Statistics (2nd ed.). Springer, New York.

  • Hatak, I., Harms, R., & Fink, M. (2015). Age, job identification, and entrepreneurial intention. Journal of Managerial Psychology, 30(1), 38–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herron, L., & Sapienza, H. J. (1992). The entrepreneur and the initiation of new venture launch activities. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 17(1), 49–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iakovidou, O., Koutsou, S., & Partalidou, M. (2009). Women entrepreneurs in the Greek countryside: A typology according to motives and business characteristics. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 14(2), 165–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iakovidou, O., Koutsou, S., Partalidou, M., & Emmanouilidou, M. (2012). Women entrepreneurs in rural Greece: Do they come from the same “neck of the woods”? Locals. Daughters-in-law and Urban-newcomers. New Medit, 11(2), 58–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivanova, I. (2014). Quadruple helix systems and symmetry: A step towards helix innovation system classification. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 5(2), 357–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B. R. (1990). Toward a multidimensional model of entrepreneurship: The case of achievement motivation and the entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship Theory and practice, 14(3), 39–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kakouris, A., Apostolopoulos, N., Dermatis, Z., Komninos, D., & Liargovas, P. (2018). Entrepreneurial efficacy and orientation in Greece: Exploring the gender gap. International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 8(3), 197–213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalantaridis, C., & Bika, Z. (2006). Local embeddedness and rural entrepreneurship: Case-study evidence from Cumbria. England. Environment and Planning A, 38(8), 1561–1579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasimis, C., & Papadopoulos, A. G. (2005). The multifunctional role of migrants in the Greek countryside: Implications for the rural economy and society. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 31(1), 99–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kasimis, C., Papadopoulos, A. G., & Zacopoulou, E. (2003). Migrants in rural Greece. Sociologia Ruralis, 43(2), 167–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeble, D., Bryson, J., & Wood, P. (1992). The rise and fall of small service firms in the United Kingdom. International Small Business Journal, 11(1), 11–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, B., Fielke, S., Bayne, K., Klerkx, L., & Nettle, R. (2019). Navigating shades of social capital and trust to leverage opportunities for rural innovation. Journal of Rural Studies, 68, 123–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolehmainen, J., Irvine, J., Stewart, L., Karacsonyi, Z., Szabó, T., Alarinta, J., & Norberg, A. (2016). Quadruple Helix, innovation and the knowledge-based development: Lessons from remote, rural and less-favoured regions. Journal of Knowledge Economy, 7, 23–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korsgaard, S., Müller, S., & Tanvig, H. W. (2015). Rural entrepreneurship or entrepreneurship in the rural–between place and space. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 21(1), 5–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kottika, E., Özsomer, A., Rydén, P., Theodorakis, I. G., Kaminakis, K., Kottikas, K. G., & Stathakopoulos, V. (2020). We survived this! What managers could learn from SMEs who successfully navigated the Greek economic crisis. Industrial Marketing Management, 88, 352–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsou, S., Notta, O., Samathrakis, V., & Partalidou, M. (2009). Women’s entrepreneurship and rural tourism in Greece: Private enterprises and cooperatives. South European Society and Politics, 14(2), 191–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koutsou, S., Partalidou, M., & Ragkos, A. (2014). Young farmers’ social capital in Greece: Trust levels and collective actions. Journal of Rural Studies, 34, 204–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, N. F., Jr., Reilly, M. D., & Carsrud, A. L. (2000). Competing models of entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15(5/6), 411–432.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuratko, D. F., Hornsby, J. S., & Naffziger, D. W. (1997). An examination of owner’s goals in sustaining entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Management, 35(1), 24–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labrianidis, L. (Ed.). (2017). The future of Europe’s rural peripheries. . Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Labrianidis, L., & Sykas, T. (2009). Migrants, economic mobility and socio-economic change in rural areas: The case of Greece. European Urban and Regional Studies, 16(3), 237–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, R., & Fink, M. (2019). Rural social entrepreneurship: The role of social capital within and across institutional levels. Journal of Rural Studies, 70, 155–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lassithiotaki, A. (2011). Rural women and entrepreneurship: A case study in Heraklion Crete prefecture. Greece. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 16(02), 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (2012). The triple helix, quadruple helix,…, and an N-tuple of helices: Explanatory models for analyzing the knowledge-based economy? Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 3(1), 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leydesdorff, L. (2013). N-Tuple of helices. Encyclopedia of Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, 1400–1402.

  • McGehee, N. G., & Kim, K. (2004). Motivation for agri-tourism entrepreneurship. Journal of Travel Research, 43(2), 161–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orhan, M., & Scott, D. (2001). Why women enter into entrepreneurship: An explanatory model. Women in Management Review, 16(5), 232–243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Park, H. W. (2014). Transition from the triple helix to N-tuple helices? An interview with Elias G. Carayannis and David FJ Campbell. Scientometrics, 99(1), 203–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pato, M. L., & Teixeira, A. A. (2016). Twenty years of rural entrepreneurship: A bibliometric survey. Sociologia Ruralis, 56(1), 3–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petrou, A., Pantziou, E. F., Dimara, E., & Skuras, D. (2007). Resources and activities complementarities: the role of business networks in the provision of integrated rural tourism. Tourism Geographies, 9(4), 421–440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pindado, E., & Sánchez, M. (2017). Researching the entrepreneurial behaviour of new and existing ventures in European agriculture. Small Business Economics, 49(2), 421–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roth, G., & Wittich, C. (Eds.). (1978). Max Weber, Economy and society. . University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sá, E., Casais, B., & Silva, J. (2019). Local development through rural entrepreneurship, from the Triple Helix perspective. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 25(4), 698–716.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarasvathy, S. D., Dew, N., Velamuri, S. R., & Venkataraman, S. (2010). Three views of entrepreneurial opportunity. In Z. J. Acs & D. B. Audretsch (Eds.), Handbook of entrepreneurship research. (pp. 77–96). Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Segal, G., Borgia, D., & Schoenfeld, J. (2005). The motivation to become an entrepreneur. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 11(1), 42–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sergaki, P., & Nastis, S. A. (2011). Collective entrepreneurship in agriculture and its contribution to sustainable rural development in Greece. Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA 61(2), 109–128.

  • Stathopoulou, S., Psaltopoulos, D., & Skuras, D. (2004). Rural entrepreneurship in Europe: A research framework and agenda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 10(6), 404–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teilmann, K. (2012). Measuring social capital accumulation in rural development. Journal of Rural Studies, 28(4), 458–465.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tilt, J. H., Kearney, A. R., & Bradley, G. (2007). Understanding rural character: Cognitive and visual perceptions. Landscape and Urban Planning, 81(1–2), 14–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tregear, A., & Cooper, S. (2016). Embeddedness, social capital and learning in rural areas: The case of producer cooperatives. Journal of Rural Studies, 44, 101–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trigkas, M., Partalidou, M., & Lazaridou, D. (2020). Trust and other historical proxies of social capital: Do they matter in promoting social entrepreneurship in Greek rural areas?. Journal of Social Entrepreneurship, 1–20.

  • Tzanopoulos, J., Kallimanis, A. S., Bella, I., Labrianidis, L., Sgardelis, S., & Pantis, J. D. (2011). Agricultural decline and sustainable development on mountain areas in Greece: Sustainability assessment of future scenarios. Land Use Policy, 28(3), 585–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vliamos, S. J., & Tzeremes, N. G. (2012). Factors influencing entrepreneurial process and firm start-ups: Evidence from central Greece. Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 3(3), 250–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, N., & Vorley, T. (2015). The impact of institutional change on entrepreneurship in a crisis-hit economy: The case of Greece. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 27(1–2), 28–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, M. S., Jr. (1990a). Rural entrepreneurship research: An integration into the entrepreneurship field. Agribusiness, 6(4), 329–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wortman, M. S., Jr. (1990b). A unified approach for developing rural entrepreneurship in the US. Agribusiness, 6(3), 221–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zampetakis, L. A., & Kanelakis, G. (2010). Opportunity entrepreneurship in the rural sector: Evidence from Greece. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 12(2), 122–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

We thank the Editor and two Journal Reviewers for their insightful and highly constructive comments that helped us improve previous versions of our manuscript. The usual disclaimer applies.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of the Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece

    Zafeirios Thomakis & Irene Daskalopoulou

Authors
  1. Zafeirios Thomakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Irene Daskalopoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Irene Daskalopoulou.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Thomakis, Z., Daskalopoulou, I. Entrepreneurial Views and Rural Entrepreneurial Potential: Evidence from Greece. J Knowl Econ 13, 1611–1634 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00784-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-021-00784-z

Keywords

JEL

Search

Navigation