DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES IN RUSSIA

Small and medium-sized businesses serve as the basis for sustainable economic development. However, the strong exposure of small and medium-sized enterprises to risk and external uncertainty under the influence of a number of factors significantly impede their steady growth. The article studies the factors of development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Russia over the past 13 years. The purpose of the work was to establish patterns and prevailing trends, mainly characterizing the number of SMEs. Based on statistical data for 2006—2018, a correlation and regression analysis of factors was carried out. The factor of the number of people employed in the economy, the weighted average rate on short-term loans, and the average nominal wage have a positive effect on the growth in the number of small enterprises. The tax burden and inflation rate negatively affect the number of small enterprises. The change in the share of the number of employees at SME enterprises is subject to statistically significant quite stable interrelated trends — an increase in the share of employees in small enterprises and a decrease in medium ones. The results obtained made it possible to make a forecast of the dynamics of the development of small and medium-sized enterprises for 2020-2024. Provided that the basic scenario of the socio-economic development of Russia is followed and the prevailing trends in the sector are maintained, it can be expected that their total number by the SME entity can grow to 3 636 thousand units (1.37 times) by 2024. It can be noted that in Russia in recent years there has been a positive dynamics in the development of small business, each year the growth of registered companies exceeds the number of liquidated ones.

small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), economic growth, business demography, sustainable development, linear dynamics, scenario forecast, state support for entrepreneurship, business activity, development factors, macroeconomic indicators.

Chunikhin S. A. Development trends of small and medium enterprises in Russia. Business. Education. Law, 2020, no. 2, pp. 143–149. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2020.51.231.