درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose- Existing literature shows that women, especially rural women, play a prominent role in the development of small and medium-sized businesses; however, few studies have explored factors affecting the perceptions and entrepreneurial tendencies of rural women in developing countries, especially in Iran. The present study was conducted to investigate the determinants of entrepreneurial tendencies of rural women, who are members of microcredit funds, in western Iran (Kermanshah province).Design/methodology/approach- This is an applied study of a correlational-descriptive nature with a quantitative approach that uses a survey method for data collection. The study population consists of all female members of microcredit funds in Kermanshah city (n = 626 people). Using Bartlett et al.'s table, 201 people were chosen as the research sample using a stratified random sampling method. They were selected by proportional assignment. The main data collection instrument was a questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed using content validity, convergent validity, combined reliability and Cronbach's alpha. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and Smart PLS software.Findings- According to the results, the latent variables of social capital, recognition of opportunities and entrepreneurial skills had a positive and significant effect on the entrepreneurial tendency of rural women who are members of the microcredit fund; however, the positive and significant effect of entrepreneurial education on the entrepreneurial tendency of rural women was not confirmed. In addition, the findings showed that social capital has a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial tendency through opportunity recognition.Originality/value- The findings of this research have theoretical and practical implications for the development of entrepreneurship among rural women. That is while enriching literature on the subject, it helps policy makers focus on communication and social interactions, strengthen entrepreneurial skills and introduce entrepreneurial opportunities to develop entrepreneurship among rural women.

Purpose- Rural tourism is considered a potential solution for rural communities to overcome economic challenges; in this context, smart tourism can be viewed as a logical advancement from traditional tourism, providing a balanced approach to revitalizing rural settlements and creating new economic opportunities for farmers and local communities. Accordingly, given that smart tourism can play a significant role in the sustainable development of businesses and the overall economy of villages, the aim of this research is to analyse the impact of smart tourism on the sustainable development of rural businesses in the Tafresh County.Design/methodology/approach- Therefore, this study is applied and employs a descriptive-analytical method, and from a paradigm perspective, it is classified as quantitative research. The required information was collected through both documentary-library and field methods. The statistical population of the study includes 28 villages in Tafresh County. In the field method, a researcher-made questionnaire was used. For data analysis, exploratory factor analysis, one-sample T-test, and the MARCOS multi-criteria decision-making model were utilized.Findings - The results from the exploratory factor analysis indicated that among the five identified factors, social and infrastructural factors in smart tourism have the greatest impact on the sustainable development of rural businesses. The results from the MARCOS decision-making model also showed that the villages of Kookan, Khank, and Naqousan are in a more favorable position regarding the indicators of smart tourism in the sustainable development of rural businesses.

Purpose- The agricultural insurance fund plays a crucial role in rural areas and agricultural sector. Evaluating the performance of this fund can better identify its effectiveness and challenges. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of the agricultural insurance fund in the development of rural areas in Shiraz County.Design/methodology/approach- This descriptive-analytical research is based on data collection through a survey. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was verified with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient greater than 0.70. The statistical population consisted of rural residents totaling 55323 individuals. Based on Cochran’s formula, the sample size was determined to be 382 individuals.Findings- The test results, at a significance level less than 0.05, indicated that the Agricultural Insurance Fund had poor efficiency in rural development from the perspective of rural residents. The average test result of 2.404 also confirms this finding. Despite its poor performance, the fund’s highest effectiveness and efficiency were related to promoting social justice with an average score of 2.609. Furthermore, analysis of variance showed no significant difference between rural areas regarding the performance status of the Agricultural Insurance fund at a level greater than 0.05 but equal to 0.774. It is also predicted that the Agricultural Insurance Fund may have an impact on the situation of rural areas. According to the regression results, support for the expansion of greenhouse cultivation with a beta value of 0.349 has been the most important factor in the effectiveness of the fund.Research limitations/implications- challenges related to data collection access and significant costs complicated this research endeavor. To mitigate these negative impacts, villages with larger populations were prioritized for inclusion.Practical implications- Sustainable rural development in agriculture hinges on various forms of managerial support from entities like the Agricultural Insurance Fund. Dynamism in this area can expedite development.Originality/value- Despite being relatively overlooked, evaluating the performance of Agricultural Insurance Funds can highlight positive aspects for managers and specialists due to their importance. The villages within the research scope also provide value and authenticity to this study.