Rural Youth Entrepreneurship: Digital Learning Opportunities and Implementation Challenges

Abstract

This chapter investigates the nexus between entrepreneurship and rural development, focusing on a comparative analysis of female and male entrepreneurs. Conducted in the Fes-Meknes region of Morocco, the research aims to explore how the characteristics of entrepreneurs influence their impact on rural development initiatives. We surveyed a sample of 190 individuals, comprising 115 male and 75 female entrepreneurs, and employed econometric analysis using binary logistic regression to analyze the data. The chapter aimed to compare the socioeconomic characteristics, business attributes, technological factors, and entrepreneurial behaviors of male and female entrepreneurs, as well as their impact on rural development. The results of the analysis showed significant differences between male and female entrepreneurs in various aspects, such as education level, household income, family situation, access to financial resources, business sector involvement, legal structure, years in operation, and target market preferences. Additionally, the chapter found that male entrepreneurs tended to utilize digital technologies more extensively and benefit more from entrepreneurship training compared to their female counterparts. However, female entrepreneurs demonstrated a higher propensity for contributing to rural development initiatives through their businesses, particularly in agribusiness-related activities.