Background to entrepreneurship in the Republic of Buryatia (1988-2017)

The study presents the historical background to entrepreneurship in the Republic of Buryatia from 1998 to 2017. The research reflects the establishment and transformations of laws and regulations intended to support small and medium-sized businesses and create government agencies responsible for the promotion of entrepreneurial initiatives. The paper highlights and describes four entrepreneurial development stages in the region: 1988-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2007, and 2008-till present. It is important to understand that entrepreneurs should become the leaders of an economic shift to innovative development approaches in the Republic of Buryatia. This implies the efficient use of the capacity of entrepreneurs. The successful social and economic development of Russian regions highly depends on the purposeful cooperation of authorities with small and medium-sized businesses.