Pioneers for Profit: St. Petersburg Entrepreneurs in Services

Autor: Martha de Melo, Gur Ofer, Olga Sandler
Rok vydání: 1995
Předmět:
Zdroj: The World Bank Economic Review. 9:425-450
ISSN: 1564-698X
0258-6770
DOI: 10.1093/wber/9.3.425
Popis: Russian private entrepreneurs in services are truly pioneering, because many servicesespecially trade, financial services, and most business and consumer services-are poorly developed. This article uses 1992 and 1993 survey data from St. Petersburg to assess the characteristics of these entrepreneurs, their firms, and the markets in which they deal. Evaluation of the firms' performance establishes how well they are doing and provides insight into the determinants of success. Their performance was surprisingly good and can be attributed to several factors, including the existence of a substantial gap between the desired and the actual levels of many services and the high level of education and motivation of the entrepreneurs themselves. Policy priorities are to achieve macroeconomic stability, a transparent legal framework and simplified regulations, a well-designed tax code, further privatization of real estate, and better access to finance. Direct assistance programs would be useful in providing information, counseling, and financing to small and medium-size firms.
Databáze: OpenAIRE