Development of Non-agricultural Economic Activity in Rural Areas

Abstract

Rural entrepreneurship and enterprise development can stimulate local economic growth,engage young people, and recreate communitys vitality. A lively, growing rural community willencourage further growth of the regions and entrepreneurship is one of the leveraging instruments for unify a disproportion in socio-economic development of Polish regions.The paper analyses the development of non-agricultural economic activity on rural areas andshows the chances and barriers for rural entrepreneurships increase.Research conducted in 76 villages shows that the most popular non-rural economic activityon rural areas is trading and most of the activities have local extent. Lack of the funds forlaunching a company is the great barrier to further development of rural entrepreneurship andstructural policy instruments can be a chance to improve this situation.