RUSSIAN BUSINESS IN THE ERA OF DIGITALIZATION: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE SUPPORT MEASURES

This study is devoted to the issue of the effectiveness of measures of state support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the context of digitalization of the Russian economy, with special attention paid to the aspects of digital interaction between business and the state. The purpose of the work is to identify key trends in the development of the SME sector, identify existing problems and develop recommendations for improving the effectiveness of government initiatives in the digital era. Using a set of methods, including a comparative and statistical analysis of official data from the Federal Tax Service, the Unified Register of SMEs, the SME Corporation and the Ministry of Economic Development for the period 2019–2024, as well as expert assessments and surveys of representatives of the business community, the following main results were obtained: the growth rate of small and medium-sized businesses actively using electronic government services; significant differences in the level of digitalization of different regions and sectors of the economy, caused by the peculiarities of their socio-economic structure, were found; empirically confirmed that the most popular measures are to provide financial assistance and organize educational support; The important role of digital literacy and developed infrastructure for the effective provision of state support to small and medium-sized businesses is substantiated. Digitalization has made it much easier for entrepreneurs to obtain the necessary services and reduced bureaucratic obstacles, but serious obstacles have been identified, such as insufficient infrastructure of the regions, a low level of digital competence among small enterprises and imperfect integration of electronic services. The results of the study allow us to conclude that further improvement of state regulation and the development of the digital environment are the most important factors for the successful functioning and sustainable growth of Russian small and medium-sized businesses. The presented results emphasize the need for further scientific understanding of mechanisms for reducing territorial inequality, expanding digital infrastructure, updating legislation and developing educational programs for entrepreneurs that contribute to increasing the availability and effectiveness of state support for SMEs in the context of digitalization of the economy.