ANALYSIS OF THE POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA

In order to develop rural economies in the Republic of Serbia, the development of entrepreneurship is necessary. The development of entrepreneurship is needed, both in the field of primary agricultural production and in the field of processing of agricultural products, but also in non-agricultural activities, which are insuficiently developed according to the results of the last Census of Agriculture. The aim of the paper is to analyze the potential for the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas in the Republic of Serbia, in the segment of human and financial resources. The authors analyze the period 2014-2024 and conclude: that the average unemployment rate of the population in the working age of 15-64 in rural areas in the specified period was 13%; that in the age structure of unemployed residents in rural areas, the dominant average share in the analyzed period was occupied by residents in the age group of 25-34; that in the educational structure of unemployed residents in rural areas, the dominant average share in the analyzed period was occupied by residents with a secondary vocational education. All the above indicators indicate that there are adequate human resources for the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas in the Republic of Serbia. In terms of financial resources, in the current period there are incentives for the development of entrepreneurship within the agricultural budget and the IPARD III program, but also within the subsidies of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Serbia. The authors conclude that in order to develop entrepreneurship, education of residents of rural areas is needed, as well as better information about available subsidies, as well as promotion of quality entrepreneurial ideas.

KEYWORDS / KLJUČNE REČI: 

Entrepreneurship, human resources, financial resources, development, rural areas, Republic of Serbia

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT / PROJEKAT:

Research was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, grant 451-03-136/2025-03/200009 from 4^th February 2025.

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