Regional business activity index of small and medium enterprises in Russian Federation
The need to develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is recognized worldwide. Small and medium-sized enterprises create jobs and provide a significant share of the population with income, create conditions for socio-economic stability of the country as a whole and its regions in particular. Public policy plays an important role in the development of SMEs, it is formed on the basis of the analysis of the current situation and medium, and long-term forecasts. In this regard, the assessment of business activity of SMEs in each region is a relevant and important task, which allows not only to balance the SME support programs, but also to identify the most significant factors that ensure the leadership position of the regions. Having compiled a regional index of business activity of small and medium enterprises, we obtained a reliable quantitative source of information on the state of the SME sector throughout Russia, based on real statistical data. This article analyzes the regional SME business activity index within the Russian Federation, presenting the results in the form of five key clusters of regions. It identifies three regions that have received the highest rating along with the traditional leaders, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and reveals the possible key success factors that served to achieve high performance in this area.