The development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a key factor in regional economic dynamics in conditions of spatial heterogeneity, increased agglomeration processes and digital transformation of markets. The Moscow Region, representing one of the largest agglomeration territories in Russia with a developed industrial, logistics and innovation infrastructure, forms a specific environment in which the effectiveness of SME support tools becomes systemically important for the spatial and economic development of the region. The purpose of this study is a comprehensive analysis of the factors of SME development in the Moscow region for the period 2014-2024 and substantiation of the directions for improving regional economic policy based on the roadmap. The methodological basis consists of methods of comparative, structural-dynamic, correlation and interpretative analysis. The empirical base includes aggregated statistical data on five groups of factors: economic, infrastructural, administrative, socio-demographic, and market. The analysis revealed a steady positive trend in the effective indicators of SME development: during the period under study, the number of business entities increased from 350 to 580 thousand units, the share in GRP — from 25 to 40%. At the same time, structural barriers have been identified: the increasing tax burden, the uneven spatial distribution of resources, and the continued dependence of peripheral municipalities on the agglomeration core. The practical significance of the work consists in substantiating a roadmap of ten strategic directions for improving the regional SME support policy, addressing the identified structural problems.
small and medium-sized enterprises; regional economic policy; Moscow region; agglomeration effects; entrepreneurial ecosystem; spatial development; institutional factors; digitalization; regional sustainability; entrepreneurship support; roadmap; structural and dynamic analysis
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