The supporting structures of entrepreneurship - a case study on the entrepreneurial development in a rural community

Abstract: In the last centuries, Sweden's rural communities have experienced a constant decreasing population to pave the way for the urbanization trend. Studies have found that innovation is a driver for a city's survival and thriving, but still, rural communities have experienced a deteriorated attitude towards entrepreneurship. Through a qualitative single-case study on Järvsö, a village negatively correlated to the trend, this thesis aims to understand why Järvsö is an outlier and how other regions might follow. The sample consists of 10 respondents acting within three identified verticals; tourism, industry, and enablers. By analyzing empirical material using the Integrative Model of Entrepreneurial Environments in combination with Network Theory, including eventual cases of Network Failure, the study finds that even though support functions are available, they are seldom utilized and, instead, drivers are substantial socio-economic factors in combination with an encouraging culture. The existence and availability of networks seem to foster a thriving entrepreneurial culture, but a future complication might emerge due to network failure. Implications, therefore, suggest that future research should emphasize a holistic perspective rather than a delimited one and additional cases of rural communities should be explored to gain a deeper understanding.