State support for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship in regions with resource abundance

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article is to investigate the influence of state paternalism on the development of small and medium-sized entrepreneurshipin the northern region of the Russian Federation, unique in natural resources. A hypothesis is put forward about the propensity of the northern resource-producing region – the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra to a paternalistic model of the functioning of the entrepreneurship institution, where state custody of economic agents is dominant. The article analyzes the measures of state support of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, operating in the Russian Federation and Yugra, and considers foreign experience in this area. Methods: The main theoretical and empirical methods of the conducted research include analysis of literary and other sources on the subject of the study, analysis of expert interview data, as well as description of the research object employing descriptive statistical methods. Results: Based on interviews with entrepreneurs, representatives of state authorities, and organizations that form the state support infrastructure, conclusions are drawn that state support for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship should be considered as a necessary element for developing the economic activity of enterprises in the northern oil-producing region, however, not as the main one. Conclusion: To develop regional measures of state support for small and medium-sized entrepreneurship, the authors suggest the experience of foreign countries that have successfully built their models for developing and supporting small entrepreneurship.