Entrepreneurs' Associations and Regional Government in Russia 1991-2010 (Research Brief)

The project explores the social and political implications, at a regional and municipal level, of the emergence of small and medium-sized business (SME) owners as an organized interest group in the period since 1991. It begins with a statistical analysis of data from all eighty-three Russian regions to test for association between scores on regional democracy indices and the intensity of SME development by region. Using contrasting cases revealed by the analysis of data from all regions, the qualitative phase of the study focuses on four case study regions: Rostov, Samara, Smolensk and Perm. Interviews in the regional case study cities delve into the origins, perceived autonomy, channels of influence and effectiveness of entrepreneurs’ organizations in the case study regions.

Download the pdf at the top of this page for the full brief.

Molly O'Neal, of the University of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, was a 2009-10 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) fellow.