Title:
AREAS OF EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES (ON THE EXAMPLE OF GEORGIA)

Authors:
Valeri Mosiashvili and Tamar Kvinikadze

ABSTRACT:
In the present study, we studied the main directions of state support measures for small businesses in Georgia, both from an institutional and financial point of view. We made an author's analysis and assessment. The research shows that the recent measures taken by the government are based on world best practices and should ensure the development of small entrepreneurship in the country. Despite the positive effects obtained by the implementation of the projects, we believe that this is insufficient and it is possible to obtain even more results with the existing support programs (with financial resources), even in the short term. One of the prerequisites for this is to study how small businesses are ready to effectively use the projects offered by the state, whether there is a place for ineffective or "undirected" use of financial assistance, and how they see the prospects for the development of similar projects, what directions they consider promising for funding/support. During the research, we selected a focus group, entrepreneurs engaged in various fields of business, both from the capital and from the regions. The purpose of the research was to find out -how small businesses are informed about state support measures, to what extent they participate, in which direction it is acceptable to implement further projects, in what way they prefer assistance/support. By searching for primary information, as a result of qualitative research, we made reasoned conclusions and recommendations.