Abstract
<jats:p>The article is devoted to the identification and analysis of the asymmetry of entrepreneurial development in the regions of Southern Russia based on a comprehensive expert survey. Materials. 50 interviews with entrepreneurs from five regions (Rostov, Volgograd, Astrakhan Regions, the Republic of Kalmykia, Stavropol Territory), the multidimensional nature of regional imbalances in business conditions is revealed. Results. The study revealed four interrelated types of asymmetry: institutional (differences in administrative barriers, tax regimes, and interaction with government authorities), infrastructural (inequalities in access to communications, Internet speed, and digitalization), personnel (shortage of qualified specialists and salary gaps), and financial (differences in the availability of loans and grants). The Rostov Region has been singled out as a leader in the integrated development of the business environment, while the Republic of Kalmykia remains an outsider with critically low infrastructure and digitalization rates. The paper offers practical recommendations for government authorities and development institutions to smooth out the identified imbalances and create equal conditions for business development in the macroregion. The study contributes to the understanding of regional differences as a complex phenomenon requiring a coordinated policy of alignment at all levels of government.</jats:p>