ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL OF BELARUS CITIZENS LIVING IN AREAS CONTAMINATED BY RADIONUCLIDES

Abstract

This article analyzes the strategies in entrepreneurship of the citizens of the Republic of Belarus who currently live in the areas that were affected by the Chernobyl disaster. The empirical base consists of the results from the scientific research “To carry out a socio­logical assessment of the entrepreneurial potential of the territories affected by the Chernobyl disaster within the framework of the event ‘To conduct a sociological assessment of the factors, mechanisms and conditions of development of small and medium-sized businesses in the territories affected by the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant’” of the State Program for elimination of the effects of the Chernobyl disaster for 2021-2025 (No. GR 20213172). Object of the present research is the adult (aged 16-59 years) population of the Republic of Belarus who lives in the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Subject of the research is entrepreneurial activity of different socio-demographic and territorial groups of the population of the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster as well as their evaluation of the conditions for small and medium-sized business development. The research resulted in identifying the hybrid nature of socio-economic systems of the regions under study as the employment structure combines market and non-market preferences and motivations with a slight prevalence of market ones. On the one hand, in a present competitive environment mixed economic systems that combine market and non-market structures have a greater chance of success. On the other hand, in such systems a strategic value is assigned to the need for strengthening of moral structures of a personality which allow to maintain balance between material and spiritual aspects of life. After all, the preponderance of material aspects leads to consumer sentiments that are difficult to satisfy. As a consequence, it results in the decline of fertility rates, environmental issues, and the increase of social tensions.