Russian poll shows worsening entrepreneurial climate

(Interfax – June 3, 2013) In the past four years Russians have taken a more negative view of the conditions for the development of private enterprise in their city, town or village, Interfax news agency quoted VTsIOM pollster as saying on 3 June. While in 2009 the situation was regarded as bad by 44 per cent of the people polled, now the figure has reached 55 per cent.

The situation is assessed as negative, first of all, by residents of small towns and villages (62 per cent) as well as by those 35-44 years of age (63 per cent). One-quarter of the respondents think that conditions for the development of private business in their place of residence are good (25 per cent). The conditions were seen as good mostly in cities with population over one million (36 per cent) and over 500,000 (34 per cent) as well as by Russians 18-24 years of age (31 per cent).

Most of the Russians who do not have their own business say that they do not intend to start their own business in the future (72 per cent, against 65 per cent in 2011). At present 16 per cent plan to become entrepreneurs (two years ago this figure was 20 per cent) – these are mainly people 18-24 years of age (38 per cent) and residents of cities with population over one million (24 per cent). Also, 7 per cent tried to run their own business in the past but were not successful and in addition to this 1 per cent have their own business at the moment.

A relative majority of those who have the experience of entrepreneurial activities assess it as satisfactory (47 per cent). Over one-third describe their attempts to create a business as unsuccessful (35 per cent) – first of all those aged over 45 (41-46 per cent). At the same time, 15 per cent were satisfied with their experience of entrepreneurial activities (in 2009 this figure was 10 per cent) – these were, first of all, people aged 25-44 (17 per cent).

The VTsIOM poll was conducted across the country on 18-19 May 2013 and it questioned 1,600 people in 130 population centres in 42 regions, territories and republics of Russia. The statistical margin of error does not exceed 3.4 per cent.