Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals remain relevant in times of crisis, especially such goals as eradicating poverty, inequality, ensuring economic growth, developing innovation and infrastructure. Achieving these goals is where small and medium-sized enterprises can play a key role. An analysis of the EU countries’ experience in the application of entrepreneurship support measures is of particular interest for the prompt adjustment of the Russian SME support policy, since they take into account not only short-term political and economic needs, but are aimed at achieving a long-term result - sustainable development. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the analysis of the best foreign SME support practices in terms of achieving certain indicators of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The purpose of the work is to generalize the experience of SME support in the EU in connection with the implementation of sustainable development goals. For this, the following tasks have been set: establishing links between the SME activities and the implementation of the SDGs; analysis of support for various target groups of entrepreneurs in the context of achieving SDGs 8, 9 in the EU; analysis of anti-crisis support measures in the context of achieving SDGs 8, 9 in the EU. General scientific methods are applied - generalizations, comparisons, synthesis, inductive approach. The following conclusions and results were obtained in the study: SMEs contribute greatly to value creation, development and use of innovations, promoting employment, and they are most consistent with SDGs 8, 9; the main support measures include traditional loans and guarantees, subsidies, public procurement, tax incentives, as well as digital platforms, improving the digital skills of the population, financing scientific research; support for vulnerable groups of entrepreneurs is carried out through the promotion of entrepreneurship, the development of entrepreneurial skills and culture, information and advisory support, access to financing, development of entrepreneur networks and improvement of labor legislation; development of assistive technology to access support measures; provision of premises for doing business, coaching, mentoring. Among the recommendations for the Russian practice, it is necessary to note facilitating the SME access to financial resources, promoting entrepreneurship, creating networks of entrepreneurs in areas with different specifics, training entrepreneurs and the public in digital technologies, and providing special benefits for doing business to vulnerable groups of the population. Research prospects: analysis of the Russian experience of SME support in conjunction with the SDGs and generalization of the most effective practices in order to form an effective policy. 

Abstract

The small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are the most vulnerable in times of crisis due to their scarce resources: financial, human, information etc., that is why the issues of providing support to entrepreneurs are relevant during crisis. The analysis of SMEs’ support international practices during recent economic crisis caused by COVID-19 infection might be used to form new approaches to supporting entrepreneurship in times of crises in Russia. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the analysis of foreign practices of supporting SMEs during the recent COVID-19 crisis. The purpose of this article is to summarize international experience in supporting SMEs in times of crisis. For this, the following objectives were set: the analysis of institutional, fiscal, monetary and regional measures of supporting entrepreneurs during the pandemic, as well as the analysis of the empirical works that access their effectiveness. General scientific methods are applied - generalizations, comparisons, synthesis, inductive approach. The authors come to the following conclusions: In response to the economic crisis caused by coronavirus, many countries have taken comprehensive measures to support small and medium-sized businesses; the most common are fiscal support measures, which include grants for entrepreneurs, direct investment, finance guarantees, temporary reimbursement of expenses and temporary tax holidays for entrepreneurs. According to the first empirical evidence, the most significant positive effect is caused by measures aimed at reducing the tax burden on entrepreneurs and compensating for their operating expenses.