On the role of small and medium-sized businesses in the economy of modern Russia

Abstract

The relevance of the research topic is due to significant changes in business conditions and the need to assess their impact on the activities of small and medium-sized enterprises. At the current stage of the geo-economic confrontation, the domestic economy is faced with large-scale restrictions and measures to curb its development. Solving the problem of the emerging shortage of financial and other resources involves their optimal distribution between business entities and their groups, including between small and large businesses. The priority recipients of resources should be groups of systemically important entities capable of ensuring the sustainability and dynamic development of the entire economy. In the article, the author considers the question of whether domestic small and medium-sized enterprises belong to such entities. The purpose of the study is to assess the role and potential of small and medium-sized businesses in ensuring sustainable and dynamic development of the domestic economy in modern conditions. The author presents the results of systematization of current scientific approaches on the topic under consideration, indicators characterizing the share of small and medium-sized businesses in the economy of Russia and a number of foreign countries. A criteria analysis of its role and potential in ensuring the development of the domestic economy has been performed. The prerequisites for changing this role in the medium term are assessed. To achieve the goal of the article, the results of Russian and foreign research, statistical observation data, as well as methods of criterial and comparative analysis were used. When studying the prerequisites for increasing the role of small and medium-sized businesses, a factorial method was used based on a set of factors presented by the author. The results of the study confirmed the special importance of small and medium-sized businesses for ensuring the social aspects of economic development, including ensuring employment and stimulating private initiative. It is concluded that there is a need to increase government support in this area. In the broader context of economic development, domestic small and medium-sized businesses are characterized as a relatively small part of the national economy with a moderate level of stability in times of crisis and relatively low innovative activity and susceptibility to innovation. Its influence on economic growth is assessed as limited, and its role in ensuring sustainable and dynamic development of the domestic economy is assessed as secondary and complementary. There are no prerequisites for a significant change in this role in the medium term, which is due to the existing economic structure, industry structure and modern business conditions. The results of scientific research may be in demand by experts in the field of strategic socio-economic planning.