Ograniczenia rozwoju sektora małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw na obszarach wiejskich

Constrains of Development of SME Sector in Rural Areas

The aim of the paper is an attempt to describe directions and determinants of developing SME Sector under conditions of European Union (UE) integration. The integration process into EU caused new conditions of functioning the Polish national economy. One of the benefits of EU integration in the light of the Polish SME sector development is a wide access to EU market. Potential opportunities of the Polish SME sector development created by the EU membership are described as follows: increasing amount of turnover, increasing of export activity, increasing places of employment, an inflow of foreign capital, technical infrastructure development, restructuring rural and peripheral areas, and also strengthening local self-government.  Provided evaluation of SME sector strategy shows current constrains of rural SME sector development, i.e. low level of investment, worse perspectives of employment then in urban areas, domination of defensive behaviors. Consequently limited activities oriented to product and market expansion, giving preferences to no risks, and defense of gained market position. One of the main reasons of revealed constrains is low impact of local authorities on initiating and developing rural entrepreneurship and inadequate strategic planning, and also limited budget means.