Economy

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Objective: The present study aims to investigate the role of social entrepreneurship based on self-help groups in the economic empowerment of rural women in Topqareh rural district in Khodabandeh County (Zanjan province).
Methods: The present study is of an applied type, and its method is descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the study is 645 women working in a clothing production workshop, of which 240 were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula. Due to the high participation of the individuals, 271 questionnaires were completed and used as the basis for analysis. A field method based on completing a questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using one-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The results of the one-sample t-test showed that social entrepreneurship has a positive effect on all indicators of rural women's empowerment, and the indicators of participation in household decision-making and promotion of women's personal and social security both had the greatest impact on rural women's empowerment, with a numerical mean of (4.11). Also, the results of the Wilcoxon test showed that there was a significant difference in all research indicators at the 99% level, and the greatest changes were observed in the indicators of socio-economic self-reliance (-11.511) and social freedom and mobility (-11.508).
Conclusions: Social entrepreneurship based on rural women's self-help groups has helped improve the economic indicators of rural women's empowerment.
 

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Objective: Rural areas in many developing countries are increasingly confronted with economic, social, and environmental challenges that contribute to social exclusion, poverty, and population decline. In this context, the concept of creative settlements has emerged as an innovative approach for revitalizing rural communities and promoting sustainable development. The present study aimed to identify an appropriate model for the formation of creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County, located in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive–analytical methodology. Relevant indicators were identified through documentary studies and preliminary field investigations. Data were collected using field observation forms, expert questionnaires, and household surveys. The collected data were analyzed using Fuzzy DEMATEL and SPSS software. The findings revealed that participation was the most influential component in the formation of creative rural settlements, with a mean score of 4.05. Furthermore, 70.3% of surveyed households reported an increase in the process of creative settlement formation during the last decade, whereas 21.2% perceived a decline.
Results: The results indicate that rural participation, social cohesion, occupational diversification, local leadership capacity, and the promotion of creative ideas significantly contribute to the emergence and development of creative settlements.
Conclusions: The study concludes that the participatory model represents the most effective framework for fostering creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County. Strengthening participatory mechanisms can enhance other dimensions of creativity and innovation, thereby accelerating rural development and improving the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.
 

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Objective: This study aims to identify the key local drivers influencing tourism development in Ferdows County, Iran, with a future-oriented perspective toward the 1414 Horizon (2035).
Methods: The research is applied in purpose and employs a mixed-methods design. The study population consisted of tourism experts, managers, and stakeholders in Ferdows County. Using snowball sampling and the principle of theoretical saturation, 30 experts were selected for the qualitative phase. Data were collected through structured interviews and a futures studies cross-impact questionnaire. The identified drivers were analyzed using the MICMAC structural analysis model.
Results: The results revealed fifteen local drivers affecting tourism development. Among these, the most influential drivers were social security and safety in tourism destinations and attractions (+15), promotion and preservation of indigenous handicrafts (+11), development of local tourism infrastructure (+7), branding and marketing of local tourism products (+7), preservation of historical assets and cultural heritage (+5), and tourism investment and financial support (+1).
Conclusions: By adopting a futures studies approach, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of both local and extra-local factors affecting tourism development. The findings offer strategic insights for policymakers and tourism planners seeking to enhance the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of tourism in Ferdows County.
 

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Objective: As one of the principal social support institutions in Iran, the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee (IKRC) is mandated to facilitate the transition of poor and deprived households out of poverty through an empowerment-oriented approach. This study critically evaluates and diagnoses the effectiveness of the Committee’s empowerment initiatives targeting rural households in Hamun County, located in the Sistan region of southeastern Iran.
Methods: The study adopted a descriptive–analytical research design based on both documentary and field data. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered at two levels: beneficiary households and local experts. The statistical population consisted of household heads covered by the IKRC in rural areas of Hamun County. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 369 households was selected. Data analysis was conducted using the Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) multi-criteria decision-making technique, supported by SPSS and ArcGIS software.
Results: The results indicate that among the economic indicators, self-sufficiency and employment loans demonstrated the lowest effectiveness in promoting economic empowerment. In contrast, indicators such as psychological well-being and life satisfaction achieved the highest scores within the socio-cultural dimension. Friedman test results revealed statistically significant differences among the dimensions of empowerment, with the socio-cultural dimension exhibiting the highest level of effectiveness and the economic dimension the lowest.
Conclusions: Weak monitoring mechanisms and the inefficiency of human resources in achieving program objectives were identified as the principal factors limiting the effectiveness of the Committee’s empowerment initiatives. The findings highlight the need for revising implementation policies, providing specialized staff training, and strengthening process-oriented monitoring systems to enhance the effectiveness of rural empowerment programs.
 

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Objective: Agritourism creates new forms of interaction between agricultural producers and visitors while utilizing existing rural resources. In addition to strengthening local economies, it contributes to the preservation of agricultural land against pressures arising from large-scale retail expansion and global food supply chains. Given the growing importance of this sector, the present study investigates the factors influencing agritourism development in the rural areas of the Central District of Ardabil County, Iran.
Methods: This applied research adopted a descriptive–analytical approach. Data were collected through both documentary and field-based methods. The statistical population consisted of household heads engaged in agricultural land utilization. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample of 380 respondents was selected through simple random sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 67 indicators were initially examined, of which seven were excluded due to insufficient factor loadings. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability. The structural model confirmed significant relationships between agritourism development and its determining factors. The highest factor loadings were associated with organizing cultural and recreational festivals, improving street lighting, and promoting crop diversification and agricultural product branding. Furthermore, the highest t-value (43.961) was observed for the relationship between agritourism development and socio-cultural factors, indicating the dominant role of this dimension in fostering agritourism development.
Conclusions: The development of agritourism in the Central District of Ardabil requires effective integration of managerial, policy, and legal dimensions. Agritourism can stimulate comprehensive socio-economic and cultural development, thereby contributing to sustainable rural development. Strengthening agritourism initiatives can enhance employment opportunities, improve household incomes, reduce rural outmigration, and increase the value-added potential of agricultural products and rural handicrafts.
 

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Objective: Saffron is a drought-resistant crop that has recently been promoted as an alternative agricultural product in Javanrud County, western Iran. Given the novelty of saffron cultivation in the region, this study aimed to assess its development potential and identify appropriate strategies for its expansion.
Methods: A mixed-methods case study approach was employed. The study population consisted of saffron growers and agricultural experts in Javanrud County. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 experienced saffron farmers and 10 agricultural specialists selected through purposive sampling. SWOT analysis was applied to identify internal and external factors affecting saffron cultivation. Subsequently, the Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) was used to prioritize development strategies.
Results: The results revealed seven major strengths, among which family-based production capacity and favorable regional conditions for saffron cultivation were the most important. Seven major weaknesses were also identified, including limited acceptance of saffron as a cropping pattern and inadequate packaging and marketing practices. Opportunities included the compatibility of saffron cultivation with the local climate and access to broader markets, while major threats involved market limitations and insufficient provision of inputs and equipment by agricultural support institutions. Overall, the aggressive (SO) strategy was identified as the most suitable development strategy.
Conclusions: The findings provide practical guidance for agricultural policymakers and extension organizations in Kermanshah Province and Javanrud County to formulate effective strategies for promoting sustainable saffron cultivation.

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Objective: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative technology with significant potential to enhance rural development through improving productivity, decision-making processes, and access to information. This study aimed to investigate the role of AI in empowering rural communities, considering the mediating effect of managerial support in the rural areas of Natanz County, Iran.
Methods: The research adopted an applied, descriptive-survey design. The statistical population consisted of all rural residents of Natanz County, from which 371 respondents were selected using Cochran’s sampling formula. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising three dimensions: artificial intelligence (5 items), rural empowerment (19 items), and managerial support (6 items). The validity of the instrument was confirmed through face, content, and construct validity, while reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (0.86). Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in SmartPLS software.
Results: The findings revealed that AI had a significant positive effect on rural empowerment (β = 0.636, T = 12.002) and managerial support (β = 0.392, T = 3.875). Furthermore, managerial support significantly influenced rural empowerment (β = 0.332, T = 5.533). Sobel test results confirmed the mediating role of managerial support in the relationship between AI and rural empowerment (T = 7.678). The results indicate that AI can substantially contribute to rural empowerment by enhancing agricultural productivity, improving access to education and healthcare services, facilitating market connectivity, and supporting informed decision-making. Effective managerial support and appropriate infrastructure are essential for maximizing the developmental benefits of AI in rural communities.
Conclusions: The study highlights the importance of integrating AI technologies into rural development strategies to foster sustainable socio-economic transformation and reduce rural–urban disparities.
 

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Objective: Farming of native poultry at the village level will provide entrepreneurship and employment for rural women, provide needed protein, improve rural income and sustainable rural development. Despite the benefits of native poultry, the acceptance of this rural activity has not received much attention. Therefore, identifying the factors affecting of native poultry farming among villagers in Mazandaran province can provide grounds for improving the villagers' willingness to carry out this native activity.
Methods: The present study is quantitative and descriptive-survey. The statistical population is the total number of native poultry farmers in Mazandaran province, 64725 people. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select the sample. 382 native poultry farmers were randomly selected as samples. The required data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by asking experts and the reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficient.
Results: Personal-professional factors and social-environmental factors explain 73% of the changes in perceived usefulness and 36% of the changes in perceived ease of use. Perceived usefulness, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control explain a total of 74% of the changes in behavioral intention, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention explain about 64% of the changes in native poultry farming behavior.
Conclusions: The main essence of the proposed model is behavioral intention over behavior, but perceived behavioral control is also an important variable that, along with behavioral intention, affects native poultry farming even more intensely. Increasing the risk-taking power of producers, improving the knowledge and skills of producers, raising public awareness for the consumption of native poultry, expanding the cooperative of native poultry producers, and providing low-interest and targeted bank loans are among the suggestions for the development of native poultry farming in Mazandaran province.
 

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The aim of the current research is to identify spatial processes affecting the development of rural entrepreneurship in order to identify existing and emerging theoretical perspectives. The research method in the current study is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of methodology, it is a combination of systematic review and qualitative content analysis. The statistical population of the research is articles extracted from magazines related to the field of rural entrepreneurship and geography in valid databases. The research population is 113 articles over a period of 22 years from 2000-2023. In the next step, irrelevant articles were removed by screening and finally, 38 Latin scientific articles were analyzed as the research community from the total of studies. For analysis, open, axial and selective coding was used in the software environment (Atlas Ti). Also, the opinions of 5 experts have been used for validation. The research findings included 212 primary codes that were conceptualized in 26 categories and four dimensions and one component (social-spatial). Examining the time distribution of the articles showed that the first articles were published in 2007 and remained stagnant until 2014, and after that, there was an increasing trend until now. Such thematic distribution of articles have been published in social, spatial and economic fields, respectively. The research results showed that rural entrepreneurship is strongly influenced by spatial factors. These studies have been affected by the conceptual evolution of space literature and at the same time as the conceptual evolution of this discourse, its proposed components have also changed and changed from a traditional perspective to a socio-spatial concept. Therefore, space acts as a platform for social interactions and plays an important role in the formation of social and spatial networks that affect the development of rural entrepreneurship