Role of small business in providing employment in the Russian north

The article is devoted to the study of the level and dynamics of small business in the Russian North in current conditions on the basis of official statistics and the author's sociological survey. The reasons of the functioning and development of small business in market conditions are revealed. Regions of the Far North and territories equated to such are studied. The object of the research is small business in the northern Russian regions. The subject of the research is the study of the features of business development in the northern Russian regions. The purpose of this work is the study of processes taking place in the sphere of employment in the small business sector and its development in the northern regions of Russia. The information basis of this paper consists of domestic and foreign economists' works, materials of periodicals, and Internet resources on this topic. The results of the study show that employment in small businesses in the northern Russian regions, which are characterized by the dominance of extractive industries in the economy, does not have a strong impact on overall employment which is caused by thissector's current insufficient advancement. There is a narrowing of the small business sector on studied territories. With a case study of one northern region (the Komi Republic), we showed a contribution of small business into the provision of employment. The impact of small business on primary socio-economic indicators of the region is revealed. The assessment was conducted, and a low level of residents' business activity was noted: northerners do not seek to open a business due to a low level of expectations associated with the improvement of the economic situation and understanding of spatial development problems on the territory of residence. The main reasons of northerners' low business activity are the lack of entrepreneurial skills, the lack of start-up capital and difficulties with its attraction. The key directions of the increase of employment in the small business sphere of the northern regions are highlighted.