Authors: Yelena A. Yakimova, Jr. Lecturer of Theory and Practice of Management Dept., Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin

Viktor V. Grevtsev, Business analyst of mass market, OAO Megafon (Ural Branch)

Abstract: The authors consider a unique group of companies (fast­growing «gazelle»­firms) that open two broad perspectives: a significant increase in jobs and exponential growth of the gross production volume. The study analyses the concentration of «gazelle»­companies depending on belonging to the industry cohorts; examines percentage distribution of «gazelles» in terms of life cycle; detects econometric dependence between the number of «gazelles» and GDP level, CPI, unemployment, forms of ownership in these companies and the year when the firm turned into a «gazelle».

Keywords: Fast-growing companies (gazelles), sector cohort, entrepreneurial activity, succession, time groups