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Abstract
Globalization has opened the market for small and medium size enterprises. However, global
corporations have become the largest competitors for local companies. The key actors of rural economies
are small and medium size enterprises. The condition of rural economies is significant in connection with the
condition of local firms and their local competitiveness. This paper summarizes the most important results
and conclusions of research into the North-Balaton touristic region - where a local currency was issued some
years ago. It examines the attitudes of the entrepreneurs participating in a community currency system, and
the preferences of habitants accepting the vouchers of a community currency as part of their wages and using
them for purchasing goods and services. The most relevant conclusion is that most of the inhabitants do not
prefer the local currency, and only a small portion of the inhabitants think that they contribute to the growth
of the local economy by using the local currency. Many entrepreneurs are not interested in accepting the
local currency because of the limited ability of utilization as well as its high transaction cost.