The problem of measuring the uneven territorial distribution of entrepreneurial activity in the modern Russian economy

The study is devoted to the problems of measuring entrepreneurial activity in Russia at the subnational level. Four original indicators reflecting the density of entrepreneurship and the state of the business environment in the regions of Russia are proposed. The leading regions and outsider regions in terms of entrepreneurial activity in Russia have been identified. The study confirmed the existence of extreme unevenness in the distribution of entrepreneurial activity between the subjects of the Russian Federation. An inverse relationship was found between the gross regional product (GRP) and the shares of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the GRP of the regions, the absence of a positive impact of small and medium-sized businesses on innovative and economic development in the regions of Russia, and it was also shown that the choice of indicators for measuring entrepreneurial activity significantly affects theoretical conclusions and practical recommendations.