WP 26-011: Ethnic Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Sustainable Rural Development: Evidence from Yi-Nuosu Communities in Liangshan, Southwest China

Ethnic entrepreneurship has increasingly been recognized as a potential driver of endogenous rural development, particularly in peripheral regions where cultural heritage and local resources constitute key development assets. This study examines the role of Yi-Nuosu ethnic entrepreneurs in fostering sustainable rural development during the early stages of tourism development in three counties of Liangshan Prefecture (Southwest China). Based on qualitative research involving semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs from different economic sectors, the study adopts a grounded approach to explore how entrepreneurship contributes to socioeconomic resilience, cultural revitalization and environmental stewardship. The findings demonstrate that Yi-Nuosu entrepreneurs create employment opportunities, strengthen local livelihoods, reinforce community cohesion through clan and social networks, and promote self-empowerment, particularly among women. They also play a central role in preserving and renewing traditional knowledge, handicrafts and cultural identity while encouraging the sustainable use of local resources. Although tourism remains at an exploratory stage and is constrained by seasonality, weak institutional support and limited entrepreneurial ecosystems, it provides new opportunities for locally embedded businesses to diversify rural economies and increase the value of cultural heritage. The article argues that ethnic entrepreneurship should be understood not merely as a tourism activity but as a broader mechanism of endogenous rural development. It proposes a conceptual framework linking ethnic entrepreneurship, community resilience and sustainable rural development, highlighting the importance of locally rooted initiatives, cultural capital and collaborative governance. The findings contribute to debates on rural resilience, indigenous entrepreneurship and sustainable development in ethnic minority regions. 

Keywords: ethnic entrepreneurship; rural development; sustainable rural tourism; indigenous communities; social capital; cultural heritage; Yi-Nuosu communities.