FEATURES OF DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES UNDER EXTERNAL CONSTRAINTS
Authors:   Orenburg State University, Orenburg, Russia, Korabeynikov I. N. , Kurlykova A. V. ,   Orenburg State University, Orenburg, Russia, Kirgizova I. V. ,   Orenburg State University, Orenburg, Russia
Published: September 2023

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Russia are characterized by a large number and, at the same time, vulnerability: due to limited capital, SMEs are unable to independently cope with the challenges of the external environment and need state support. In the current economic conditions, SMEs experience a number of difficulties associated with both limited access to resources and high competition in the market. In addition, the sanctions imposed against Russia have complicated the activities of SMEs in the areas of supply, procurement, information and advertising, which determined the relevance of the study. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the face of external constraints. The object of the study is small and medium-sized businesses in Russia in general and the Orenburg region, as one of the border regions. The choice for the study of the Orenburg region is justified by the strategically important economic and geographical position of this region. The research methodology was based on general scientific methods of cognition, as well as logical-comparative, causal and correlation-regression analysis. The study carried out a retrospective analysis of the development of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region, considered the areas of activity in respect of which anti-Russian sanctions were imposed, and also identified the main patterns of the modern development of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia. Considerable attention is paid to the mechanisms of state support for small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region. Based on the analysis of statistical data, the main problem of the development of SMEs and its support in the Orenburg region was identified. The study analyzed the experience of successful implementation of small and medium-sized businesses in Russia and the Orenburg region. It is shown that digitalization is an urgent and most promising direction for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. The practical significance of the study is to determine the features and promising directions for the development of SMEs in Russia and the Orenburg region in the context of external restrictions, taking into account import substitution. The results of the analysis of key economic sectors and the functioning of SMEs presented in the article will be useful to their management, as well as to the scientific community for further research in the following areas: identifying import substitution factors at SMEs under external restrictions and sanctions, identifying objective and subjective conditions of negative impact on the subjects SMEs, the distribution of the productive forces of SMEs, the spatial specialization of SMEs, planning and forecasting the development of SMEs under external constraints, and a number of others. Key words: small and medium business, external restrictions, sanctions, directions of development of small and medium business, features.