Do Rural Firms Perceive Different Problems? Geography, Sorting, and Barriers to Growth in UK SMEs

Lyee, Neil; Cowling, Marc

doi:10.1068/c12234b

Cited by 35 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…This will present an excellent opportunity for understanding the underlying perceptions, behaviours, motivations and attitudes towards artisans (see, for example, Krueger and Casey 2000). Another opportunity will be to test whether firms in urban, semi-rural, and rural areas perceive each of the obstacles or variables to their success differently (see, for example Lyee and Cowling, 2015). In their study, Lyee and Cowling (2015) posit that firms in rural and urban areas differ in their characteristics, and these may have more important influences on firm growth than location.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first main contribution related econometric methods employed that enabled development or assembling of valid data set and then uses various descriptive statistical and logit regression to analyse determinants of the decision to engage in artisanal employment and the intensity of participation. As far as we know, this issue has not been directly examined in artisan entrepreneurship research by applying logit model as previous studies focused on investigating the goals and values of craft practitioners (Bouette and Magee, 2015); examining the goals of contemporary artisans (Tregear, 2005); describing the current situation of the handicraft market (Forero-Montaña et al, 2017); and as a means to promote long-term development of the rural economy (Dana, 1999;Lyee and Cowling, 2015). To determine the factors influencing the decision to engage in artisanal activities we employed socio-economic (independent) variables such as age, sex, education (see, for example, Kabongo and Okpara, 2010), technical education, household size, farm size, access to credit, access infrastructure, etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of livelihood choices and artisanal entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Igwe

Madichie

Newbery

2018

IJEBR

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide fresh insights into rural artisanal activities in a developing world context. It highlights key determinants of the decision to engage in an artisanal business and the challenges that impact upon the growth of these activities. Design/methodology/approach The study adopts a mix-method research approach to explore a rural setting where most respondents (81 per cent) combine farm and non-farm livelihood activities. Quantitatively, a multi-nominal regression is used to examine the determinants of diversified artisanal livelihoods. It modelled the differences between farming livelihoods that have not diversified, compared to those also involved in the artisanal activity or wage employment and the intensity of participation. Findings The findings show that nearly half of artisanal businesses (45.4 per cent) comprise only the owners and no employee, while 54.6 per cent employ one to three workers. Also, some artisanal ventures were more gender-specific than the gender-neutral activities. Other observations were in age (most artisans were under the age of 46 years) and vocational training (most were self-trained followed by a third receiving training only in specific areas such as technical works, building and construction and general trading apprenticeships). Research limitations/implications The study is based on a relatively small sample size of 306 business owners, which makes it difficult to generalise despite the persuasiveness of the observations made. Practical implications First, the use of econometric methods enabled the development of valid data sets (and various descriptive statistical and logit regression) to analyse determinants of the decision to engage in artisanal work, and the intensity of participation. Second, the ambiguity in categorising artisanal activities is unravelled. The study characterises the local artisanal sector and examines the intensity of participation. Without these, targeted support would remain elusive for practical and policy interventions. Originality/value Artisanal activities constitute a high proportion of small businesses in the study area – with more than half (54.2 per cent) of respondents being classified as artisans, yet it is an overlooked area of entrepreneurship. Highlighted here are both types of activities and challenges regarding better conceptualising the understanding of artisans and regarding this mostly unarticulated base of practice.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of livelihood choices and artisanal entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Igwe

Madichie

Newbery

2018

IJEBR

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“…It was commented that the mainstream enterprise support is 'urban-focused' with little reflection of the specifics and needs of the rural businesses. The lack of local focus and place-based approach in supporting rural business contributes to shortages in business support provision for rural business (Lyee and Cowling, 2015).…”

Section: Place-based Policy and Enterprise Supportmentioning

confidence: 99%

Configuration of enterprise support towards the clean growth challenge: A place-based perspective

Baranova

Paterson

Gallotta

2020

Local Economy: The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit

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Although clean growth has been identified as one of the grand challenges of the UK Industrial Strategy, public policy paid little attention to the configuration of business support towards enhancing clean growth potential of small and medium-sized enterprises. The dominant approach of policymakers to the design of enterprise support interventions appears to be ‘place-blind’ and downplays the challenges that small and medium-sized enterprises face in engaging with the clean growth policy agenda. Based on a mixed methods methodology, involving a survey of 306 businesses, a range of public engagement exercises and an extensive interview schedule, the study explores small and medium-sized enterprises engagement with the clean growth challenge and associated business support mechanisms. We conceptualise the nexus of place–policy–practice as a way of framing policymaking approach in addressing the challenge. As part of the clean growth policy implementation, business support mechanisms need to move beyond a singular focus on energy efficiency and shift towards a holistic approach to capacity building for sustainable development. Small business needs to project a district voice in the definition of place in the local industrial strategies and have access to enterprise support which is place-based, policy-informed and practice-relevant.

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“…Many studies on the characteristics of SMEs and determinants of growth have been conducted at the country level (Lee andCowling 2015, Krasniqi 2007) and identify a number of well-established themes. However, very few studies have conducted cross-country comparisons.…”

Section: Barriers To Enterprise Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers to enterprise development in the Caribbean

Drinkwater

Lashley

Robinson

2018

Entrepreneurship & Regional Development

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Caribbean 1 economies have suffered from stagnant growth since the 1990s. This can be a feature of small developing economies and is a major concern for policy-makers. In this paper, we examine establishment-level data to gain a better understanding of the factors that constrain the growth of businesses in the region. In addition to documenting broad differences in obstacles to business within and across the region, we particularly focus on the main obstacles affecting small and medium-sized firms. The econometric analysis highlights three main barriers at a regional level: an inadequately educated workforce; access to finance; and crime, theft and disorder.However, there are variations at the country level and the analysis indicates clusters of countries that experience obstacles to similar degrees. The paper concludes with recommendations for alleviating the constraints to enterprise development and in stimulating economic growth.

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Do Rural Firms Perceive Different Problems? Geography, Sorting, and Barriers to Growth in UK SMEs

Cited by 35 publications

References 48 publications

Determinants of livelihood choices and artisanal entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Determinants of livelihood choices and artisanal entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Configuration of enterprise support towards the clean growth challenge: A place-based perspective

Barriers to enterprise development in the Caribbean

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