SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

In recent years, the socio-economic environment for doing business has changed significantly under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing sanctions on the Russian economy. The small business sector is particularly affected by these factors. The aim of the paper is to study the “reaction”...

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Main Authors: Svetlana V. Terebova, Kseniya A. Ustinova
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Centre Kola Science Centre 2022-06-01
Series:Север и рынок: формирование экономического порядка
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.iep.kolasc.net.ru/journal/eng/?page_id=918
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author Svetlana V. Terebova
Kseniya A. Ustinova
author_facet Svetlana V. Terebova
Kseniya A. Ustinova
author_sort Svetlana V. Terebova
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the socio-economic environment for doing business has changed significantly under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing sanctions on the Russian economy. The small business sector is particularly affected by these factors. The aim of the paper is to study the “reaction” of the Russian small and medium-sized businesses (SME) sector to the new economic environment and to analyse its “perception” of state support measures. The information base consists of the works of domestic and foreign scientists, the data of sociological research at the country level and at the regional level (subjects of the Northwestern Federal District). In the study, the methodology of system analysis was applied, sociological and statistical analysis was carried out. The results of the study show that despite the focus of the federal and regional authorities on creating conditions to offset the effects of external “shocks” on the business sector, there remain unresolved problems. These include low effective demand and poor business infrastructure in some areas, which hinders SMEs’ access to finance for business development. This situation has led to a decline in SME revenues and employment, as well as a deterioration in the demographics of enterprises. The deterioration of the business environment has also been identified as having a negative impact on the attitudes and willingness of the population to engage in entrepreneurship. The authors assess the accessibility of state support measures for entrepreneurs using the example of the Vologda Oblast. On average, only about 60 % of those who applied for assistance were able to receive it. The authors prove that under the conditions of strengthening external shocks the necessity of state support for the SME sector increases, especially in terms of tax and financial support. The need to reduce administrative barriers to business, to provide an additional reduction of up to 10 % of insurance premiums charged on wages, to increase the period of repayment of preferential credit funds, etc. has been substantiated.
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spelling doaj.art-76cbcf74e7fc49ce9028ac4fe05f5d7b2022-12-22T00:22:48ZengThe Russian Academy of Sciences, Federal Research Centre Kola Science CentreСевер и рынок: формирование экономического порядка2220-802X2022-06-0125210712310.37614/2220-802X.2.2022.76.009SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTSvetlana V. Terebova0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2044-9521Kseniya A. Ustinova1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6198-6462Federal State Budgetary Institution of Science “Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Vologda, RussiaFederal State Budgetary Institution of Science “Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, Vologda, RussiaIn recent years, the socio-economic environment for doing business has changed significantly under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing sanctions on the Russian economy. The small business sector is particularly affected by these factors. The aim of the paper is to study the “reaction” of the Russian small and medium-sized businesses (SME) sector to the new economic environment and to analyse its “perception” of state support measures. The information base consists of the works of domestic and foreign scientists, the data of sociological research at the country level and at the regional level (subjects of the Northwestern Federal District). In the study, the methodology of system analysis was applied, sociological and statistical analysis was carried out. The results of the study show that despite the focus of the federal and regional authorities on creating conditions to offset the effects of external “shocks” on the business sector, there remain unresolved problems. These include low effective demand and poor business infrastructure in some areas, which hinders SMEs’ access to finance for business development. This situation has led to a decline in SME revenues and employment, as well as a deterioration in the demographics of enterprises. The deterioration of the business environment has also been identified as having a negative impact on the attitudes and willingness of the population to engage in entrepreneurship. The authors assess the accessibility of state support measures for entrepreneurs using the example of the Vologda Oblast. On average, only about 60 % of those who applied for assistance were able to receive it. The authors prove that under the conditions of strengthening external shocks the necessity of state support for the SME sector increases, especially in terms of tax and financial support. The need to reduce administrative barriers to business, to provide an additional reduction of up to 10 % of insurance premiums charged on wages, to increase the period of repayment of preferential credit funds, etc. has been substantiated.http://www.iep.kolasc.net.ru/journal/eng/?page_id=918small and medium-sized businessesnorthwestern federal districtregionpandemicnew economic environmentstate support measures
spellingShingle Svetlana V. Terebova
Kseniya A. Ustinova
SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Север и рынок: формирование экономического порядка
small and medium-sized businesses
northwestern federal district
region
pandemic
new economic environment
state support measures
title SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
title_full SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
title_fullStr SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
title_full_unstemmed SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
title_short SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES IN THE NEW ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
title_sort small and medium sized businesses in the new economic environment
topic small and medium-sized businesses
northwestern federal district
region
pandemic
new economic environment
state support measures
url http://www.iep.kolasc.net.ru/journal/eng/?page_id=918
work_keys_str_mv AT svetlanavterebova smallandmediumsizedbusinessesintheneweconomicenvironment
AT kseniyaaustinova smallandmediumsizedbusinessesintheneweconomicenvironment