Remaining in rural areas: towards a rural entrepreneur’s analysis framework

Abstract

This research employs an empirical approach to understand aspects defining why young people remain in their rural territories. Utilising a rural region of Caldas, Colombia as a case study and based on an agricultural education program for entrepreneurship, information from 368 rural young people was obtained. The study explored a conceptual model shaped by four dimensions and 34 variables. Using a Probit method, we identify significant variables regarding permanence in rural areas. We identify 11 key variables that determine the categories of socio-demographic profile, profile of entrepreneur characteristics, and category of motivations and territory. Our study contributes to literature on rural entrepreneurship from an empirical approach. Additionally, we propose a new analytical framework to address major problems in agriculture and rural territories, particularly in developing countries, such as Latin America.