Motives and Sources of Financing Non-Agricultural Business Activity in Areas of Natural Value and Beyond Them

Abstract

Running a business activity under conditions in which, apart from common barriers encountered by any business unit operating in the market economy, there are additional restrictions resulting from being situated within areas of natural value, is a hard challenge. For this reason it seems notable to compare entrepreneurship in such areas of natural value and beyond them. The main objective of the present study is to assess the motives and sources of financing lowscale enterprises operating in the provinces of podkarpackie and swietokrzyskie, in communities included in the system of protected areas, and communities where such areas do not occur. Particular attention has also been paid to the characteristics of owners of enterprises under examination and premises which motivated them while establishing their business. Basic empirical material comprises results from quality research conducted among 234 owners of business units. Keywords: legally protected areas, nonagricultural economic activity, entrepreneur,