The Dynamics of Youth Entrepreneurial Activity in Russian and Chinese Societies

Youth entrepreneurship is one of priority areas for the economic development of both Russia and China serving as a significant tool for reducing unemployment and fostering new economic practices. Based on a comparative analysis, this article examines the dynamics of youth entrepreneurship in Russia and China: growth scales, sectoral preferences, institutional support measures as well as the strong and weak sides of existing models, and prospects for their development. The author proposes a three-level analytical framework for youth entrepreneurship in these two countries encompassing macro, meso, and micro levels. It is noted that in both states, an increase in the number of young entrepreneurs is recorded but the growth in China is driven primarily by regional factors, whereas in Russia, the state support for the youth entrepreneurship sector merits particular attention. The paper concludes that on different institutional trajectories, these countries realize a similar logic in the development of youth entrepreneurship.