Elena A. Bragina
Institute of World Economy & International Relations,
Russian Academy of Sciences
117418 Moscow, Profsoyuznaya 23
RUSSIA
TEL: (095)120-73-88
FAX: (095)310-7027
In 1991 there were 400.000 small businesses in Russia, in 1994 - over 700.000 with 11.5% of the national employment. To ensure a balanced economic development the number of small enterprises should be increased at least by five times. Then, small businesses in their mass could become a guarantee of irreversible economic reforms and a condition for sustainable development of the country.
Small business is a traditional sphere of female labor and prospects for its development are especially important given rapidly growing female unemployment. Women head approximately one fourth of new businesses. This is a relatively high number given economic crisis, psychological stereotypes of the society, male domination in business and the traditional "double burden".
Development of small businesses engenders new environmental problems. They become a source of pollution due to primitive conditions of labor and shortage of resources, lack of sanitary control and weakness of infrastructure. Under favorable conditions, these enterprises might become cells of environmental culture.
In Russia, a system of support for small business is just beginning. However, it is already bureaucratized and inefficient. State agencies do not pay attention to women's businesses and their environmental aspects. Pilot projects to demonstrate environmentally-safe technologies for small business are needed.
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