Fifty five percent of Russian businessmen believe that the authorities view the business community mainly as a ‘tight purse’, according to an opinion poll conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM). Twenty-six percent of respondents supported the statement that a paternalistic state has been created in Russia, in which business plays the role of junior partner to the government.
Percentages of between eight and fifteen percent agreed with the statements that the government treats business as an engine of economic and social development. Similar percentages believe that the authorities view business as a rival in the struggle for influence in society, or as an equal partner. Nine percent said that government views businesses primarily as sources of crime and corruption.
Sixty one percent of small business owners and managers described the authorities as consumers in relation to business. Among respondents from large businesses, the percentage was lower, at 51 percent. Thirteen percent of Russia’s big business community agreed with the opinion that the authorities view business primarily as a source of criminal activity. Among other business groups, this opinion is less common, with only 7-8 percent agreeing with this view.
Twenty eight percent of Russia’s large business leaders described the government’s position with respect to business as a paternalistic and sympathetic relationship with a junior partner. However, only 22 percent of small business respondents shared this positive view of the government’s role in the economy.
Ten percent of respondents representing big business said that the government treated business as an equal partner. Among small business owners, this view was shared by just six percent. Seventeen percent of the big business segment and eleven percent of the small business group agreed that the authorities primarily look at businesses as engines of social and economic development.
Sixty-four percent of respondents hope that the government will provide effective lawmaking and fairly enforce regulations, while 23 to 27 percent are more concerned with the creation of a competitive business environment, as well as better infrastructure and financial support for high-priority companies and key economic sectors. Seventeen percent said that the authorities should do more to regulate the most important economic sectors, and eight percent want the state to limit foreign firms’ access to domestic markets.
On the whole, Russian businessmen were critical of Russia’s current economic policy. At the same time, the government’s economic policy was seen by many respondents as supportive of business interests.
The opinion poll, which surveyed 1,200 Russian businessmen (owners and top managers in private companies), was carried out between September and October of 2007 in 40 regions of Russia.
Fifty five percent of Russian businessmen believe that the authorities view the business community mainly as a ‘tight purse’, according to an opinion poll conducted by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM). Twenty-six percent of respondents supported the statement that a paternalistic state has been created in Russia, in which business plays the role of junior partner to the government. 
