Entrepreneurship and Its Role in the Economic Development of Villages in Iran

Rural development traditionally relies on agriculture. Accordingly, village is known by agriculture and animal husbandry. But, limited natural resources in some villages has caused economic slump. Hence, agriculture development has not resulted in economic development of all villages. Today, villages are suitable environments for the growth of manufacture, services, and in general, for activities other than agriculture. In fact, it is a transition from natural source-based business toward knowledge-based business. The situation of Iran’s villages show that as literacy, knowledge and skills increases, tendency for employment in traditional sectors of economy decreases, and desire for employment in modern sectors increases. However, Iran’s villages, like its cities, are full of unknown opportunities whose on time detection and exploitation, and creating new and competing businesses, would bring with it considerable economic benefits. The present article, studying the characteristics of Iran’s rural society, and existing and emerging trends, tries to offer new employment opportunities, strategies for development and their realization, using new professional forces. In other words, the main questions are that, regarding the population characteristics of Iran’s villages, and the changes in quality of the human forces, especially with the development of higher education, how we can create modern and competing employments along with the traditional ones, what conditions are required for them to be realized. To answer these questions, population characteristics of Iran’s villages were identified using library method, and then suggestions were made regarding the new capacities. According to the findings of the research, changing the nature of employment from traditional to modern, in rural areas, it is possible for new employment opportunities to develop; there exist new fields of employment in industrial and service sectors whose structure and facilities need to be organized, and their existing structures need to be strengthened, as well.