The Identification and Analysis of Barriers and Strategies to the Development of Sustainable Entrepreneurship in Coastal Villages

Authors

1 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

2 Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari , Iran

Abstract

Sustainable entrepreneurship, as a key component of rural development, plays a vital role in the economic and social empowerment of local communities. Entrepreneurial development is confronted with a variety of obstacles in numerous rural regions, notably coastal regions.
The objective of this investigation is to identify and analyze the obstacles and suggest strategies for promoting sustainable entrepreneurship in the coastal villages of Sari and Miandorud counties in Mazandaran Province, Iran. A mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative) was implemented in this investigation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 experts in the field of rural development and entrepreneurship during the qualitative phase. This process yielded a collection of critical barriers and potential strategies, which were subsequently categorized using thematic analysis. In the subsequent quantitative phase, a structured questionnaire was distributed among 60 local specialists, and the data were analyzed using a comparative approach to evaluate the perceived importance and implementation levels of the proposed strategies.
The fundamental barriers to sustainable entrepreneurship in coastal villages were identified by the qualitative findings as seven primary dimensions. Based on the frequency of extracted codes, economic barriers ranked highest (44 codes), followed by infrastructural (22), support-related (17), psychological (12), cultural (11), policy and planning-related (9), and educational and informational barriers (8). In terms of strategies, three main categories were identified: non-material support, entrepreneurship education and promotion, and material/financial support. The Mann–Whitney U test results demonstrated a significant gap between the perceived importance and actual implementation of all strategies, suggesting a distinct disconnect between policy recognition and practical execution from the perspective of local stakeholders.
This research accentuates the necessity of localized policy design, strengthened support and educational infrastructures, and the removal of institutional barriers, as it underscores the multi-dimensional nature of sustainable entrepreneurship development in coastal rural areas

Keywords

References

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The Journal of Community Development (Rural-Urban)
Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 33
Autumn and winter 2025
January 2025
Pages 405-426

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