Social Portrait Of A Potential Entrepreneur In Regional Russia

Abstract

The level of entrepreneurial activity, the proportion of small business in the regional economy is a very important indicator of regional social and economic development. The level of entrepreneurial activity in modern Russia remains rather low due to various circumstances. In this situation, the analysis of the level of potential entrepreneurial activity helps to define reserves of entrepreneurial activity of a region. The paper focuses on the social and demographic features of social portrait of a potential entrepreneur, as well as factors of increasing of entrepreneurial activity and of hampering the desire to become an entrepreneur. The paper presents the results of the monitoring research on the competition development in a region of Russia. 3000 respondents out of 20 districts of the region, including urban districts and the regional center took part in the survey in Nizhny Novgorod region in 2018. Within the area, the random route sample was controlled by gender and age and represented the area residents. The paper argues that there is higher level of social activity among the potential entrepreneurs. Potential entrepreneurs have more financial resources and social capital, which could be used to start a new business, smaller part of them could become forces entrepreneurs. The majority of potential entrepreneurs wait for favorable conditions when starting a small business would improve their financial position and not just would help to survive. Such situation makes much more actual investigation of factors that hampers small business development.