Many scholars have highlighted the importance of economic competitiveness for entrepreneurial activity, and hence economic growth. However, few studies quantitatively analyse the interrelationship between competitiveness and its role in increasing entrepreneurial activity at various stages of development. The aim of this study is to fill this gap in the entrepreneurship literature and to study the causal relationship between the ?pillars? of competitiveness and the different macroeconomic effects of entrepreneurship, mediated by entrepreneurial behaviour, in a panel of 81 factor-, efficiency-, and innovation-driven countries during 2012-2017. Using a MIMIC model, the results show that innovation, higher education, and technological readiness have a positive and significant impact on the level of entrepreneurial activity in the three groups of countries. In addition, development of the financial market and market size has a positive impact on entrepreneurship in factor-driven countries. Higher education and institutional strengthening have a positive and significant impact on the level of entrepreneurship in the efficiency- and innovation-driven countries, but are not significant in factor-driven countries. Moreover, the impact of infrastructure on the level of entrepreneurial activity in the factor-, efficiency-, and innovationdriven countries is positive. Good entrepreneurial behaviour generates a simultaneous and/or medium-term favourable effect on the growth of gross domestic product, exports, imports, and employment rate. Therefore, besides immediate growth, it also assures sustainable economic and social progress in the analysed countries. Our results confirm previous findings of empirical studies in the field. These findings are consistent with received economic theory on how national context affects entrepreneurial activity.

Entrepreneurs are the engines of economic development and have a special place in agricultural development and especially in rural development. For this reason, one of the most important strategies that have been used by many countries in recent decades to develop rural areas is the development of agricultural entrepreneurship. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate and prioritize the factors affecting the development of agricultural entrepreneurship in rural areas of Rostamkola. The library and field research method was used and the indices and statistical data were gathered through a questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of sample farmers and entrepreneurs in the mountain village and a sample of 150 students of households in the study area in 1395 were selected using random sampling method using Cochran formula. The results indicate that the index of social factors with an average of 2.84, the most effective and index of environmental factors with a mean of 1.93 is the least effective factor among the factors affecting entrepreneurship. The institutional and Economical factors are ranked second and third respectively. Overall, the results showed that factors such as having grouping spirit and the existence of communication and social network among the villagers, trust, initiative, individual creativity and high motivation have had the most impact on the development of rural entrepreneurship and increasing the level of entrepreneurial skills of villagers. Therefore, it is necessary to create educational, advisory, and entrepreneurial counseling centers in order to provide expert advice and utilize the entrepreneurial talents of villagers.