Authors

Discussion

Russia is the fourth largest recipient of migrants globally which makes it “one of the world’s main migration magnets” (Eraliev and Urinboyev, 2020, p. 258). Nationals of Central Asian republics constitute the biggest share in 7-million migrant population of the country (Eraliev and Urinboyev, 2020). Under the influence of both push and pull factors, many of them establish own enterprises to accommodate needs of ethnic and mainstream clientele. However, despite its large magnitude, economic significance and long history, migrant entrepreneurship in Russia remains hugely overlooked in both academic and political discussions. 

The current  study is a part of a bigger project that intends to address the existent knowledge gap. Presenting unique qualitative and quantitative data collected among Tajik, Uzbek and Kyrgyz entrepreneurs in St. Petersburg and Moscow, this study aims at initiating a discussion on migrant entrepreneurship in Russia by starting the debate with major barriers to self-employment. Representing a case outside of the Western world, Russia has specific challenges faced by migrant entrepreneurs such as political instability, informality, weak rule of law institutions, police pressure, and corruption. Although being present in other countries as well, these challenges form a unique combination which defines business experiences of migrant entrepreneurs in Russia.