Conceptualising Rural Migrant Entrepreneurship: Lessons from Kosovo.

This article examines the emerging phenomenon of rural migrant entrepreneurship, focusing on how migration experiences and remittances—both tangible (monetary and material) and intangible (knowledge, norms, and practices)—shape entrepreneurial activities in rural Kosovo. It introduces a conceptual framework distinguishing three archetypes of rural migrant entrepreneurs: "Resilient Pragmatists," who pursue economic success through pragmatic use of remittances; "Progressive Innovators," who leverage entrepreneurship to promote social change inspired by migration experiences; and "Rooted Resisters," who oppose migration and aim to create local opportunities to counteract depopulation. Drawing on qualitative interviews, the study highlights the complex interplay of individual traits, migration exposure, and rural structural challenges, suggesting that rural migrant entrepreneurship can contribute to economic growth and social transformation despite limitations such as market constraints and social resistance. The research underscores the need for further studies to refine these archetypes and explore rural migrant entrepreneurship across diverse contexts.