We respect private entrepreneurs but we are reluctant to become the ones.
MOSCOW, June 5, 2013. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning how Russians perceive entrepreneurs; whether they want to start up a business and why.
Most of Russians have friends who are private entrepreneurs (55%). Those who say that are mainly Russians aged 25-44 (66-68%), respondents with high level of education (67%), Muscovites and St. Petersburgians (76%).
The attitudes of Russians towards private entrepreneurs are improving: whereas in 2009 the share of Russians who treated them positively was 79%, today this share makes up – 83%. Those who perceive private entrepreneurs most positively are those respondents who have friends who run a business (94%). Negative assessments are expressed only by 9%; they are basically persons who do not have friends who are businessmen (14%).
Five percent report to have their own business; other 23% would like to start up a business (17% have always had such a desire; 6% have recently started to think about that). At the same time, in 2011 the share of Russians willing to start up a business was bigger – 30%. Today those who want to run a business are mainly residents of middle cities (32%) and Russians aged 18-24 (46%). Those who want to start up a business want it because they want to be independent, to work for themselves (40%) and to increase their income (39%). Rarer Russians cite the desire to do something they really like (14%); those who would like to change their social status (5%) or to hand down their business (2%) are in the minority.
Two-thirds of Russians do not want to be private entrepreneurs (63%); remarkably, 52% have never thought about that (in 2011– 43%); 11% thought about that but currently do not want to do business. Persons who are not willing to have their own business think so due to many reasons: inappropriate age and poor health (18%), lack of desire (16%), lack of knowledge (10%), lack of information and means (11 and 10%), administrative barriers (13%). Other reasons are less common: 4% are satisfied with the work they do; 4% are afraid of responsibility; 3% point out corruption; 3% believe that business is not profitable or say that they have never thought about starting up their own business.
The VCIOM opinion polls were conducted on May 18-19, 2013. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 130 communities in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you have friends who are private entrepreneurs? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
Yes, many | 20 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Yes, but only a few | 44 | 45 | 45 | 41 |
No | 34 | 37 | 36 | 44 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
What is your attitude towards people who are private entrepreneurs? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
Favorable | 41 | 45 | 41 |
Rather favorable | 38 | 36 | 42 |
Rather unfavorable | 9 | 7 | 7 |
Poor | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Hard to tell | 7 | 6 | 8 |
What is your attitude towards people who are private entrepreneurs? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| Total respondents | I know friends who are entrepreneurs | No |
Favorable | 41 | 55 | 25 |
Rather favorable | 42 | 39 | 47 |
Rather unfavorable | 7 | 3 | 11 |
Poor | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 8 | 2 | 14 |
Would you like to have your own business? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
I have my own business | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
I was going to do that earlier and now I want to do it, too | 26 | 19 | 21 | 17 |
I was going to do that earlier, but not now | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 |
I was not going to do that but now I want | 6 | 6 | 9 | 6 |
I never wanted it and now I do not want to do it, too | 44 | 55 | 44 | 52 |
Hard to tell | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 |
If you want to start up your own business, can you tell us why? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who want to start their own business) | |
I want to be independent; I want to work for myself | 40 |
I want to increase income | 39 |
I want to do want I like and to use knowledge that I have | 14 |
I want to change my social status, to be successful, rich and live with dignity | 5 |
I want to hand down my business to my children | 2 |
Other | 3 |
Hard to tell | 13 |
If you do not want to start up your own business, can you tell us why? (open-ended question, not more than three answers, % of those who do not want to start their own business) | |||
| 2009 | 2011 | 2013 |
Inappropriate age, poor health | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Other interests; no desire to run a business | 9 | 8 | 16 |
Administrative barriers (bureaucracy, high taxes) | 6 | 7 | 13 |
I do not understand anything in business; I do not have knowledge and skills | 17 | 12 | 11 |
I do not have means (high rent, high taxes, high interest rates) | 20 | 17 | 10 |
It satisfied with being a salaried employee; I am satisfied with my current job | 3 | 3 | 4 |
I am afraid of high responsibility and temporary costs | 5 | 8 | 4 |
High level of corruption and crime | 1 | 2 | 3 |
I have never thought about that | 1 |
| 3 |
This is not profitable; I have a bad experience |
| 1 | 3 |
I am afraid of bankruptcy | 3 | 5 | 2 |
It is not timely; it is time of crisis | 2 |
| 1 |
No business idea; there is nothing new | 1 |
| 1 |
I do not have connections needed | 1 |
| 0 |
I negatively perceive private entrepreneurship | 2 | 2 | 0 |
Other |
| 1 | 1 |
Hard to tell | 21 | 22 | 17 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!