MOSCOW, February 07, 2008 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on how Russian entrepreneurs estimate the current state economic line of policy in Russia; what they think the attitude of the authorities to business is and what activity on the part of the state the economy needs.

Entrepreneurs provide quite a critical estimation of the various aspects of the modern Russian state economic policy, "average" estimations and negative opinions is what prevails in most cases though with a slight difference in score. The only point to be more likely awarded a “plus” sign is the conformity of the state economic policy to the interests of business (the average score totals 3.98 points, which is below the median value of 4 points). Entrepreneurs are most critically disposed regarding the orientation of economic policy: the scale is bent in favour of the assertion, that the economic policy is not being conducted in the interests of the business as a whole, but rather in the interests of separate business groups (4.40 points). Entrepreneurs also estimate the following factors as below average: flexibility of economic policy (4.24 points), conformity of practical measures to the declared directives (4.24 points), effectiveness (4.15 points), consistency (4.12 points), and to what extent the state ensures the freedom of actions required for business and does not interfere with its development (4.06 points).

Over a half of entrepreneurs (55%) assume that the authorities primarily perceive business, as a “tight-filled purse”. The version of a state of the paternalistic type that sees business as the younger partner occupies the second place, but is far less popular that the first one (26%). According to the estimations of respondents, the authorities do not see business as the force with a significant economic and political potential: only 8-15% of the businessmen participating in the survey believe, that the authorities treat business as the foremost force in the economic and social development, as a rival in the struggle for influence in the society, or as a partner equal in rights. The assertion that the authorities treat business as nutrient medium for crime and corruption is also quite wide-spread (9%).

Owners and heads of small enterprises primarily estimate the authorities as a consumer in relation to business (61% in this group, whereas 51% among representatives of the large business sector agree with them). They also more often than others tend to believe that business for authority is, first of all, a source of problems connected with crime and corruption (13% in this group, whereas 7-8% in other segments of community agree with them). On the contrary, large business, if compared to other groups of entrepreneurs demonstrates a greater loyalty to the authorities (even though negative estimations of the attitude that the authorities have towards business also dominate in this group). It is representatives of the large enterprises who more often than others see attributes of paternalistic and caring attitude to business on the part of the authorities or that they treat business as the younger partner (28%, cf.: 22% in the sector of small business), as to the partner equal in rights (10% and 6% respectively), or as to the foremost force in the social and economic development (17% and 11% respectively).

So what attitude and what specific actions does business expect from the state? Russian business today does not need wardship or preferences but rather precise and strictly observed "rules of play". The main expectations of businessmen from authority have to do with creating effective legislative conditions for business activity, their absolute and fair application, this requirement literally supersedes all the others: 64% of entrepreneurs mentioned it. The shares of those who bring up maintenance of favourable competitive environment, creation of an infrastructure for business, financial support of the priority enterprises and sectors, account for 23% to 27%. Even less often entrepreneurs relate direct regulation of the most important segments of economy (17%) as well as regulation of access of foreign manufacturers to the Russian market (8%), etc to priority measures.

The survey of 1200 Russian businessmen (owners and top-managers of private companies) was carried out in September - October 2007 in 40 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. The selection represents the enterprise community according to branch affiliation (based on three macro branches, i.e. the industry and construction; transport and communication; service and trade) and is proportional to their share in the national economy and the size of the enterprises (according to the number people employed).