Russian entrepreneurs in changing society Regional and gender features

Russian entrepreneurs

Moscow University for the Humanities

Russian entrepreneurs in changing society Regional and gender features

Poznyakov V., Sergeeva Y.



Researching program

The subject of the research was the entrepreneurs from Moscow and different regions of Russia.

The research studied psychological attitude of entrepreneurs to different areas of their economic activity.



Researching program

In the research done in 1997 the sample consisted of 206 small and middle venture entrepreneurs of Moscow and Central Russia.

The research led in 2001 covered 285 small and middle venture entrepreneurs of Moscow, Central Russia and Siberia. Another one research was organized in 2007-2008.

All in all, the quantity of the sample accounted 835 representatives over the period of more than ten years. [1]

[1] Grant supported by RGNF (grant 07-06-18017е) и RFFI (grant № 08-06-00198а).



Table 1- Entrepreneurial motivation (1997, 2007)*

*First figure stands for average range of impotency of this motivation in the sample; the second figure is assigned range. **Difference in evaluation in motivation significance is statistically important (p<0.01).

Motivation Entrepreneurs from Entrepreneurs from

Moscow Regions Moscow Regions

1. Autonomy and self-dependency

2,04 (1) 2,24 (2) 2,24 (1) 1,89 (1)

2. Possibility to self-achievement

2,67 (3) 2,75 (3) 2,58 (3) 2,46 (3)

3. Financial prosperity**

2,16 (2) 1,77 (1) 2,32 (2) 2,25 (2)

4. Social utility for people

4,19 (5) 4,31 (5) 4,87 (5) 4,94 (5)

5. Social authority 3,98 (4) 3,92 (4) 4,49 (4) 4,53 (4)



Table 2 - Evaluation of economic conditions favorability to perform entrepreneurial activity (seven-item scale, average)

*Deviation significant р = 0.01

Entrepreneurs

1997 2001 2007

Average* St.Deviation

Average St. Deviation


Moscowers 3.56 1.61 3.57 1.33 4.31 1.35

Regional 2.98 1.31 3.64 1.38 4.17 1.46



Evaluation of economic conditions favorability to perform entrepreneurial activity (seven-item scale, average)

0

0,5

1

1,5

2

2,5

3

3,5

4

4,5

5

Average* Average Average

1997 2001 2007

Moscow ers

Regional



Table 3Family well-being evaluation by entrepreneurs (seven–item scale average)

*deviation significant р = 0.01

Entrepreneurs

1997 2001 2007

Average* St.Deviation



Moscowers 4,12 1,23 4,19 1,36 4,50 1,31

Regional 3,58 1,19 3,87 1,28 4,45 0,99



Family well-being evaluation by entrepreneurs (seven–item scale average)

00,5

11,5

22,5

3

3,54

4,55

Average* Average Average

1997 2001 2007

Moscow ers

Regional



Table 4 - Different aspects of entrepreneurial activity evaluation. Average value

Characteristics of business activity 1997 2001 2007

Moscow Regions Moscow Regions Moscow Regions

Attitude to competition 3,37 3,22 3,56 3,43 3,58 3,30

Attitude to risk 2,58 2,26 2,71 2,32 2,68 2,62

Partners reliability 4,16 3,89 4,53 4,57 4,70 4,87

Trust to state structures 2,87 2,46 2,75 2,84 2,77 3,30

Trust to entrepreneurial structures 3,36 3,47 3,85 3,93 4,27 4,34

Business activity level 5,15 4,24 4,591 4,65 4,88 4,92

Current business activity success 4,66 4,23 4,76 4,06 4,78 4,61

Meeting business targets 4,41* 3,69 4,50 4,41 4,68 5,01

Results satisfaction 3,82 3,41 4,17 4,08 4,52 4,13

Evaluation of self-capacity 4,66* 3,82 4,76 4,52 5,08 5,05

Evaluation of self-competitiveness 4,64* 4,17 4,69 4,50 4,78 5,09

*-Deviation significant р<=0,05



Different aspects of entrepreneurial activity evaluation. Average value

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Attitude to competition

Attitude to risk

Partners reliability

Trust to state structures

Trust to entrepreneurialstructures

2007г. Regions

2007г. Moscow

2001г. Regions

2001г. Moscow

1997г. Regions

1997г. Moscow



Different aspects of entrepreneurial activity evaluation. Average value

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Business activity degree

Venture successfulness

Meeting businessobjectives

Results satisfaction

Self ability evaluation

Self competitivenessevaluation

2007г. Regions

2007г. Moscow

2001г. Regions

2001г. Moscow

1997г. Regions

1997г. Moscow



Characteristics of business activity

Entrepreneurial group (2001)

Entrepreneurial group(2007)

Male Female Male Female

Attitude to competition 3,70* 3,05 3,57 3,60

Competitiveness 4,61* 4,01 4,93 4,50

Attitude to risk 2,55* 2,30 2,80 2,45

Partners reliability 4,13* 3,87 4,70 4,70

Trust to state authorities 2,84 2,51 2,87 2,55

Trust to entrepreneurial structures

3,48 3,15 4,27 4,25

Assurance in own ability 4,69* 3,76 5,05 5,15Deviation significantр<=0,05

Table 5 - Gender differences in main points of entrepreneurial activity (average value)



Gender differences in main points of entrepreneurial activity (average value)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Male Female Male Female

Entrepreneurial group (2001) Entrepreneurial group (2007)

Attitude to competition

Competitiveness

Attitude to risk

Partners reliability

Trust to state authorities

Trust to entrepreneurial structures

Assurance in own ability



•

•

•

Conclusions:



Region-based differences

According to the research in 1997 еmpirically witnessed region-based variations in socio-psychological characteristics of entrepreneurs are quite significant. Due to multiple factors business development in Moscow has been more active comparing to the regions .(Table 4)..

Socio-economical conditions for performing entrepreneurial activity in the Capital can be characterized by better formation of business cooperation and more favorable environment for business development. Entrepreneurial business in Moscow is going ahead of business development in the regions.

Moscow entrepreneurs have expressed common socio-psychological characteristics of formed entrepreneurial group more strongly than in regions and showed formed psychological attitude typical for new Russian entrepreneurs.

Research in 2001 and 2007 showed no statistically significant region-based differences between attitude of entrepreneurs.



Gender-based differences

According to the research in 2001 male entrepreneurs appreciate risk and competition more positively comparing to females. Males see their competitiveness higher than females. Male also have higher appreciation of their own capacity in venture developing.

Female entrepreneurs show lower trust in general both to governmental and Entrepreneurial organizations. They see reliability of their partners as low (Table 5).

Moscow female entrepreneurs show the indicators that are very close to male entrepreneurs in the area of attitude to competition and risk. That is more masculine characteristics.

Differences in psychological attitude between male and female entrepreneurs are regionally-dependent. That is more gender-based (socio-cultural) rather than just biological sex-based differences.

Research in 2007 showed no statistically significant differences between attitude of male and female entrepreneurs.



Trust inside entrepreneurial environment is significantly higher than trust to state organizations.

Data gathered from 1997 to 2007 indicates growing trust level inside entrepreneurial structures and stable low trust to state ones.

All these facts considered we make a conclusion that a new social group of entrepreneurs with high level of inside community and mutual trust was formed.

Trust in entrepreneurial structures



Conclusion

There is a stable tendency of gradual decreasing of psychological differences between regional and Moscow entrepreneurs.

Psychological characteristics of regional entrepreneurs are approaching to Moscow entrepreneurs characteristics.

Female entrepreneurs are also getting closer in their psychological differences to male entrepreneurs.

However, receiving substantial proof of these findings demands further thorough researches.



Thank you for attention

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Russian entrepreneurs in changing society Regional and gender features