Growth expectations for side activities in rural areas

Purpose - The purpose of this article is to examine growth expectations and factors influencing growth of side activities in rural areas. Design/methodology/approach - Data were collected in the rural areas of 36 Dutch municipalities by means of a detailed survey. This resulted in 260 response cases. The analysis consists of a descriptive account of respondents' intentions to expand a side activity and a logistic regression explaining growth expectations of these activities. Findings - The main conclusion is that although growth is not expected in a large number of side activities, there is a group of owners who clearly aspire to expand the scale of their activities. Their personal aspirations and aspirations for economic well-being are the most common motivations. These characteristics also have a bearing on the future growth of side activities and consequently their impact on rural development. Research limitations/implications - Since this article examines growth expectations and not actual growth, the findings cannot be interpreted directly in terms of economic impact on rural development. Originality/value - Scholars and policy makers have paid little attention to side activities in rural areas and specifically to their growth potential. This article enhances our understanding of the growth expectations of those who carry out side activities and shows the potential of such activities in diversifying and revitalizing rural areas.