To read this content please select one of the options below:

Resilience of rural micro-businesses in an adverse entrepreneurial environment: adapting to the energy crisis

Nikolaos Apostolopoulos (Department of Management Science and Technology, University of Peloponnese, Tripoli, Greece)
Ilias Makris (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of the Peloponnese, Kalamata, Greece)
Sotiris Apostolopoulos (Department of Economics and Business, Neapolis University, Paphos, Cyprus)
Panos Dimitrakopoulos (Department of Accounting and Finance, University of the Peloponnese, Kalamata, Greece)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 19 June 2024

Issue publication date: 28 October 2024

110

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the potential adaptability and resilience of rural micro-businesses within a business environment affected by successive crises, specifically drawing conclusions on crisis management, while simultaneously highlighting enterprises’ capabilities in managing the current energy crisis, basis the experiences and best practices that they themselves have gained previously.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling was applied, effectively identifying 18 micro-entrepreneurs in rural Greece. Subsequently, qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured in-depth interviews.

Findings

Rural micro-businesses have shown adaptability and resilience to both economic and health crises through financial support received and interventions implemented. However, different crises’ types carry different business risks. The energy crisis has led to business operation’s energy costs and raw material prices multiplying exponentially. Additionally, they received limited financial support causing them to respond to the energy crisis though concrete defensive strategies and innovative interventions.

Research limitations/implications

Future research should examine local bodies and trade unions’ perception on the energy crisis’ impact towards rural entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

The findings are useful to Greek and European policy-makers and rural micro-entrepreneurs as the experience of dealing with several previous crises can be a useful tool when dealing with current and future crises.

Originality/value

This paper adds to international literature on rural micro-businesses resilience, operating in crisis mode. Additionally, it constitutes novel research exclusively focused on the new challenges faced by rural micro-businesses during the recent energy crisis.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Tha authors would like to thank the Laboratory of European Sustainable Development Policies and the Greek Public Electricity Enterprise (DEI) for their support.

Citation

Apostolopoulos, N., Makris, I., Apostolopoulos, S. and Dimitrakopoulos, P. (2024), "Resilience of rural micro-businesses in an adverse entrepreneurial environment: adapting to the energy crisis", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 18 No. 5, pp. 1023-1044. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-08-2023-0144

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles