Opportunities for the development of small business in the northern municipalities of the Karelian Republic

The article indicates socio-economic problems of the northern territories of the Karelian Republic. Now in the north of the area one can observe population reduction, closure of the industrial enterprises and high unemployment. On the basis of program-target method to manage territorial development the author proposes some ways of overcoming the situation. The sector of small business is considered as an important factor of territorial development, which gives us the opportunity to increase self-employment, to preserve and to improve the social and economic system of the region. The article has been prepared on the basis of researches conducted by the order of the Republic’s government and according to the data of municipal districts.