Problems and perspectives of small and medium business development in regions of Lithuania

Criteria of small and medium business and its impact on country’s economic development are discussed in this article. Analysis of Lithuanian small and medium business state trends in 2002–2009 was performed, focusing on dynamics of number of small and medium enterprises and outputs of entrepreneur activities. The most of attention is paid to the analysis of small and medium business development problems in Lithuanian counties. Guidelines and instruments of small and medium business development in regions are formulated on the basis of performed analysis. Criteria of small and medium business are discussed on the basis of practice of Great Britain, Japan, USA, Russia and Lithuania. Problems of business development are specified by comparing performance indicators across counties (according to data from Department of Statistics of Lithuania database). Perspective guidelines of business development are foreseen according to performed analysis. Investigation results may be applied when solving regional cohesion issues