Results of the Zombie Companies Research: Initial Findings

On September 13, 2023, at a workshop held by IDLAb under the Russian Science Foundation grant (No. 23-78-10149), research assistants Roman Makurin and Dmitry Volodin presented the results of their analysis of "zombie companies" and "gazelle companies" in small and medium-sized businesses in Russia from 2013 to 2023. The project was scientifically supervised by Senior Researcher Mariia Molodchik and Researcher Viktor Krakovich.

 

The study employed two identification methodologies for "zombie firms," as proposed in the article by Altman and Wang (2024). The research revealed significant differences in the prevalence of such companies across various industries; however, it is too early to draw final conclusions, as the study is still in its initial stages.

Special attention was given to analyzing discrepancies in results obtained through different methods. Guest expert Roman Koposov, Deputy Director and Head of the Strategic Planning Department at the Training Institute – ARB Pro, offered several practical solutions for improving identification methodologies. These proposals sparked active discussion among workshop participants.

The head of the Russian Science Foundation grant, Y.N. Naidenova, emphasized the importance of combining theoretical research with practical experienc.

Naidenova Iuliia Nikolaevna, Deputy Head of the International Laboratory of Intangible-driven Economy

Involving external experts in research work allows us to view problems from a new perspective and find more practical solutions. This helps us bridge science and real business to achieve more significant results. We plan to continue inviting professionals with practical experience to our workshops so that their knowledge can enhance our research.