The entrepreneurial identity of Croatian farmers

In the modern European society the role of the initiator of economic growth is usually undertaken by an individual with strong entrepreneurial identity. In this article we are trying to determine the position of Croatian farmers in relation to the society in which entrepreneurial behaviour is one of the basic determinants of survival in the market. In order to meet this aim, an empirical research was performed, based on the sample of 106 farmers from the Varazdin County. After examination of the farmers' characteristics and characteristics of their agricultural production, we measured the intensity of farmers' self-categorization through different identities. The dimensions of entrepreneurial identity that support its adoption among farmers were identified by the factor analysis and regression analysis. The results show that, according to all characteristics that were examined, Croatian farmers are a heterogeneous group. Although Croatian farmers identify themselves as entrepreneurs with lower intensity, compared with other possible identities, the fact that 46% of our examinees have adopted an entrepreneurial identity indicates that there is a potential for strengthening the entrepreneurial capital in Croatian agriculture. Reprinted by permission of the Croatian Economics Association