Objective: Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in job creation, wealth generation, and economic growth, serving as a key driver of community development. However, the emergence of rural entrepreneurship requires the establishment of a supportive ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurial activities. This study aims to identify the factors affecting rural entrepreneurship development through a meta-analysis approach, utilizing CMA3 software.
Method: This study analyzed all relevant research articles published in Iranian academic journals over the past 12 years. Using keyword-based searches in credible scientific databases, 13 research articles and 2 university dissertations met the inclusion criteria. The final meta-analysis incorporated 11 key factors and 343 variables.
Findings: The results indicate that out of all identified variables:
- 175 variables were repeated at least 50 times in different studies.
- 8 variables (16%) had a low effect size (<0.3).
- 37 variables (74%) had a moderate effect size (0.3–0.5).
- 5 variables (10%) had a high effect size (>0.5).
Among the 11 main influencing factors, 7 factors were the most frequently cited:
- Individual Factors (Competitiveness, enthusiasm, and ambiguity tolerance);
- Economic Factors (Production & marketing, access to financial support);
- Social Factors (Place attachment, NGOs, economic security);
- Environmental Factors (Access to land & water, suitable natural conditions);
- Infrastructure Factors (Physical infrastructure, business environment, market access);
- Educational Factors (Entrepreneurial training);
- Institutional Factors (Institution-building, media coverage, entrepreneurship laws).
Conclusions: The meta-analysis approach highlights that rural entrepreneurship is shaped by multiple interrelated factors. This study integrates findings from diverse research to prioritize key influencing factors based on effect size, leading to the development of a comprehensive rural entrepreneurship model.
