I will be presenting a paper on Friday at this conference with a focus on the implications for rural businesses and rural economic policy. I suggest that rural entrepreneurs will see different opportunities based on their own attitudes towards their business environment. External factors such as the role of policy and consumer perceptions will also impact their business opportunities. By understanding the origins of these perceptions and the ways in which entrepreneurs relate to a rural identity, the paper will present key challenges and opportunities for both entrepreneurs and wider rural economic development.
In essence the question seems to be whether “rural” is a space in need of support for development or a space that relies on being outside of the core urban centres to facilitate creativity and diversification. Any thoughts or comments welcome.