RURAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze the importance of rural entrepreneurship in the Nordic countries. Over the years, many countries have implemented different policies and programmes in order to stimulate entrepreneurship in the rural areas. Currently, entrepreneurs from the Nordic countries are encouraged to identify new business opportunities in rural areas and to transform them in successful business ideas with the certain purpose of creating new jobs and  increasing the income of this rural areas. This paper provides a view of rural entrepreneurship at the local level in terms of its socioeconomic contribution. In all four Nordic countries many of the highlighted characteristics of rural entrepreneurship are similar, with a focus on innovation and the early embrace of new competitive technologies. The results of the analysis show that in the Nordic countries innovation, entrepreneurship and modern technology create new opportunities and rural areas are regarded as important for the development of a sustainable society.