SMALL BUSINESS IN NORTHERN REGIONS OF RUSSIA IN THE CORONACRISIS CONDITIONS: FACTORS, ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS OF DEVELOPMENT

Objective: This study examines formation issues of the small business entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Northern regions of Russia in the conditions of coronavirus crisis. The importance of small business in the regional economy is not only legally enacted but is also scientifically based and disclosed by researchers. Social and economic infrastructure with a wide range of service support for small enterprises plays a special role in the activity of small enterprises in the Northern oil and gas producing regions. The purpose of the study is to analyze and economically assess small businesses development in the Northern oil and gas producing regions, using the case study of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra based on retrospective data and to elicit existing relations between the state-of-the-art of small business and the periods of crisis events as well as to assess major problems and constraints. Methods: In this paper, the research is based on the Northern regions of Russia with a high level of state support for small businesses activities. Results: The authors of this study suggest that the coronavirus crisis has had a significant impact on the transformation of small business in Northern regions of Russia and this negative impact of the crisis may cause adverse consequences for the entire economy of the region. This assumption is verified using the case study of changes in basic parameters of small business and the impact of crisis processes on its development. Conclusion: The revealed regional features of the economic development in the Northern regions of Russia are considered by the authors not only as being negative factors but also as potential opportunities; for example, amid biological threats, those Northern regions being remote from the Centre and borders were in a better situation, in terms of spreading infection, etc

Empreendedorismo social no norte da Rússia: novas oportunidades de desenvolvimento

The main purpose of the article is to develop and substantiate the co-evolutionary model “Social entrepreneur – State institutions – Population” on the example of the Northern region of Russia. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to find and use new innovative resources of socio-economic development of the North. Violation of the socio-economic balance leads to the fact that citizens in need of special social protection become the most vulnerable in the North. Results demonstrated that this situation creates a high level of social tension. In such circumstances, an important role can be assigned to “social entrepreneurs”, who with full responsibility can take over the execution of important social functions. The results of the study can be used by regional authorities, self-regulatory organizations, associations of social entrepreneurs, other interested institutions to justify the effectiveness of administrative decisions.El objetivo principal del artículo es desarrollar y fundamentar el modelo coevolutivo "Emprendedor social - Instituciones estatales - Población" en el ejemplo de la región norte de Rusia. La relevancia del estudio está determinada por la necesidad de encontrar y utilizar nuevos recursos innovadores de desarrollo socioeconómico del Norte. La violación del equilibrio socioeconómico lleva al hecho de que los ciudadanos que necesitan protección social especial se vuelven los más vulnerables del Norte. Los resultados demostraron que esta situación crea un alto nivel de tensión social. En tales circunstancias, se puede asignar un papel importante a los “empresarios sociales”, quienes con toda la responsabilidad pueden asumir la ejecución de funciones sociales importantes. Los resultados del estudio pueden ser utilizados por las autoridades regionales, organizaciones autorreguladoras, asociaciones de empresarios sociales y otras instituciones interesadas para justificar la eficacia de las decisiones administrativas.O objetivo principal do artigo é desenvolver e substanciar o modelo coevolutivo “Empreendedor social - Instituições estatais - População”, no exemplo da região Norte da Rússia. A relevância do estudo é determinada pela necessidade de encontrar e usar novos recursos inovadores de desenvolvimento socioeconômico do Norte. A violação do equilíbrio socioeconómico leva ao facto de os cidadãos que necessitam de protecção social especial se tornarem os mais vulneráveis do Norte. Os resultados demonstraram que esta situação cria um alto nível de tensão social. Em tais circunstâncias, um papel importante pode ser atribuído aos “empreendedores sociais”, que com responsabilidade total podem assumir a execução de importantes funções sociais. Os resultados do estudo podem ser usados por autoridades regionais, organizações de auto-regulação, associações de empreendedores sociais, outras instituições interessadas para justificar a eficácia das decisões administrativas