Socio-demographic determinants of entrepreneurial intentions: A case from Iran

The main purpose of this study was to identify rural youthsʹ entrepreneurial intentions in the western part of Iran. The research also sought to investigate impacts of socio demographic traits on this intention. The study concentrated on the population of 15 to 28 years old rural youth (boys) in Kermanshah Province, west of Iran. A sample of 351 rural youth was selected through a stratified random sampling. The results showed that approximately one third of respondents had high and very high entrepreneurial intentions. In general, the rural youth intended to become future entrepreneurs moderately (equal to 3 in a Lykert scale). A stepwise multiple regression revealed six factors to be statistically significant determinants of entrepreneurial intentions namely: relation with parents, attitude towards agriculture, work experience, intent to migrate, parentsʹ level of income, and parentsʹ educational level. Motivating rural youth through their parentsʹ support, supporting agricultural activities and running entrepreneurship training courses, could significantly strengthen rural youth attitudes towards local rural environment opportunities and its everyday activities. This can consequently reinforce entrepreneurial intentions and behavior in rural areas.