Abstract
Making up 91% of its territory and being inhabited by over 56% of its citizens, rural areas constitute an essential part of the EU’s geographical characteristics and identity (ec.europa.eu). Many of these areas struggle with serious socio-economic and infrastructure problems, thus, it is very important to constantly seek new ways of improving rural dwellers’ quality of life, developing entrepreneurship, and enhancing the competitiveness of farms and agricultural enterprises. The significance of positive attitudes towards change, a constant motivation to acquire knowledge and a need for self-fulfilment among the local population are rarely considered in the frame of regional development policies. Nevertheless, the success of those policies depend heavily on the strategic thinking and way of making decisions of regional actors, and on the entrepreneurial attitudes and actions of the local population. Against this backdrop women’s entrepreneurship has attracted growing attention in the light of the importance of new business creation for economic growth and development. While ‘the policy rationale for the development of women’s entrepreneurship was traditionally focused on issues like poverty alleviation, women’s equality and empowerment, and social inclusion’ (Lotti 2006: 2; for the case of developing countries see, for example, Jamali 2009) positive effects of female commitment are increasingly appreciated in the context of rural development strategies.
Keywords
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Aidis, R., Welter, F., Smallbone, D. and Isakova, N. (2007), Female Entrepreneurship in Transition Economies: The Case of Lithuania and Ukraine. Feminist Economics, 13, 157–183. Available at: http://www.academia.edu/1024225/Female_Entrepreneurship_in_transition_Economies_the_case_of_Lithuania_ and_Ukraine (accessed 21 April 2015).
Alam, S.S., Jani, M.F. and Omar, N.A. (2011), An Empirical Study of Success Factors of Women Entrepreneurs in a Southern Region in Malaysia. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 3(2), 166–175.
Anbumozhi, V. (2007), Eco-Industrial Clusters in Urban-Rural Fringe Areas. (Hyogo: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies).
Baranowski, M. (2012), Working in Social Cooperatives. the Case of Greater Poland Region of Poland. Studia Historiae Oeconomicae, 30, 93–109.
Bernat, G.A. (1999), Industry Clusters and Rural Labor Markets. Southern Rural Sociology, 15, 170–187.
Borzaga, C. and Galera, G. (2012), The Concept and Practice of Social Enterprise. Lessons from the Italian Experience. International Review of Social Research, 2(2), 85–102.
Borzaga, C, Depedri, S. and Tortia, E. (2009), The Role of Cooperative and Social Enterprises: A Multifaceted Approach for an Economic Pluralism, Euricse Working Papers, 9, http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1622143 (accessed 21 April 2015).
Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) (2011): Clusters in the Lubelskie Voivodeship (Warszawa: PARP).
Davis, A. (2011), Rural and Urban Women Entrepreneurs: A Comparison of Service Needs and Delivery Methods Priorities. International Journal of Business Science and Applied Management, 6(2), 1–16.
Dees, J.G. (2001), The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship. (Durham: Centre for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship, Duke University), 1–6.
Duraj, J. (2011), Social Cooperatives Ways of Operation Activity in Poland — Some Features of Theory and Practice. Comparative Economic Research, 13(5), 49–65.
CECOP (European Confederation of Worker Cooperatives and social and participative enterprises) (2006): Comparative Table of Existing Legislation in Europe: On Social Cooperatives in Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Poland, on Social Enterprises in Belgium, Finland, UK, and Italy. http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/uploads/legislation%20social%20coop%20social%20enterprise%20final%20EN.pdf (accessed 15 February 2014).
Galvez-Nogales, E. (2010), Agro-Based Clusters in Developing Countries: Staying Competitive in a Globalized Economy. (Roma: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
Gibbs, R.M. and Bernat, G.A. (1997), Rural Industry Clusters Raise Local Earnings. Rural Development Perspectives, 12(3), 18–25.
Igual, J.F. and Vidal, S.M. (2002), Farm Cooperatives and the Social Economy: The Case of Spain. Journal of Rural Cooperation, 30, 119–133.
Jamali, D. (2009), Constraints and Opportunities Facing Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries. A Relational Perspective, Gender in Management. An International Journal, 24(4),232–251.
Kaźmierczak, T. (2008), W poszukiwaniu strategii pobudzania oddolnego rozwoju społeczności wiejskich (Warszawa: Institute of Public Affairs).
Krzyszkowski J. (2008), Diagnoza sytuacji społeczno-zawodowej kobiet wiejskich w Polsce (Warszawa: Ministry of Labour and Social Policy).
Krzyżanowska, K. (2014), The Situation of Women in Rural Areas and Their Participation in the Labour Market. Problems of Small Agricultural Holdings, 1, 55–67.
Kuah, A.T. (2002), Cluster Theory and Practice: Advantages for the Small Business Locating in a Vibrant Cluster. Journal of Research in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, 4(3), 206–228.
Lotti, F. (2006), Entrepreneurship: Is There a Gender Gap? https://mail.sssup.it/~lotti/gender_gap.pdf. (accessed 15 February 2014).
Mancino, A. and Thomas, A. (2005), An Italian Pattern of Social Enterprise. the Social Cooperative. Nonprofit Management & Leadership, 3(15), 357–369.
Munnich, L.W., Schrock, G. and Cook, K. (2002), Rural Knowledge Clusters: The Challenge of Rural Economic Prosperity. Reviews of Economic Development Literature and Practice, 1–31.
Okafor, Ch. and Amalu, R. (2010), Entrepreneurial Motivations as Determinants of Women Entrepreneurship Challenges. ‘Petroleum Gas University of Ploiesti’. Economic Sciences, 2(LXII), 67–77.
Otłowska, A., Buks, J. and Chmielifiski, P. (2006), Przedsiçbiorczosc na obszarach wiejskich — stan i perspektywy rozwoju (Warszawa: Instytut Ekonomiki Rolnictwa i Gospodarki Żywnościowej, Pafistwowy Instytut Badawczy), 1–62.
Prabhu, G.N. (1999), Social Entrepreneurial Leadership, Career Development International, 4(3), IIM Bangalore Research Paper No. 131.
Robichaud, Y., Lebrasseur, R., Riverin, N. and Zinger, T. (2005), A Comparison of Female and Male Entrepreneurs — Insights from GEM Canada, Working Paper, 08. Paper presented at the GEM second Conference, Budapest, Hungary, 25 May 2005.
Rosenfeld, S. (2009), Generating Local Wealth, Opportunity, and Sustainability through Rural Clusters. Regional Technology Strategies.
Rosenfeld, S., Liston, C., Kingslow, M. and Forman, E. (2000), Clusters in Rural Areas: Auto Supply Chains in Tennessee and Houseboat Manufacturers in Kentucky, Contractor Paper, 11. http://www.rural.org/publications/Rosenfeld00-11pdf (accessed 15 February 2014).
Rymsza, M. and Kaźmierczak, T. (2008), Toward a Polish Model of Social Economy, in M. Rymsza, T. Kaźmierczak (eds), Social Economy in Poland. Past and Present. (Warszawa: Institute of Public Affairs), 7–25.
Socifiska, J. (2012), Klastry jako czynnik zrównoważonego rozwoju na obszarach wiejskich, Journal of Agribusiness and Rural Development, 3(25), 251–259.
Thomas, A. (2004), The Rise of Social Cooperatives in Italy. International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations, 15(3), 243–263.
Ustawa z dnia 27 kwietnia 2006 r. o spółdzielniach socjalnych (2006), Dziennik Ustaw, 94, poz. 651. http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/DetailsServlet?id=WDU200609406 51 (accessed 15 February 2014).
Weiler, S. and Bernasek, A. (2001), Dodging the Glass Ceiling? Networks and the New Wave of Women Entrepreneurs. The Social Science Journal, 38, 85–103.
Yordanova, D. and Davidkov, T. (2009), Similarities and Differences between Female and Male Entrepreneurs in a Transition Context: Evidence from Bulgaria. Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, IV(4), 571–582.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2016 Boguslaw Bembenek, Teresa Piecuch and Joanna Sudol-Pusz
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bembenek, B., Piecuch, T., Sudol-Pusz, J. (2016). Business Clusters and Social Cooperatives — A Chance to Promote Female Entrepreneurship in Rural Poland?. In: Wiest, K. (eds) Women and Migration in Rural Europe. New Geographies of Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-48304-1_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-48304-1_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-58076-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48304-1
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)