Comparative analysis of economic and socio-cultural factors influencing reproductive behaviour in the Northern and Southern regions of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Abstract Current trends associated with the difficult geopolitical situation and the consequences of the COVID-19 crisis have had an impact on the demographic situation in many countries of the world. This makes its analysis relevant, in particular, in Kazakhstan. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyse individual trends related to fertility in the context of individual regions and subsequently draw conclusions about the factors that affect it more than others. The main research methods were modelling, forecasting, abstraction, deduction, induction. In this study, the above factors are analysed by the comparative case-study method on the example of the regions of Kazakhstan with the highest (southern region) and the lowest (northern region) indicators of the total fertility rate; in addition, a brief description of the general demographic situation in the country was given. As part of the work, individual indicators were evaluated that describe the demographic situation in these regions from different angles, and also directly affect the reproductive behaviour of the local population. Particularly important were indicators characterizing the stability of the institution of marriage. The conducted analysis demonstrates the mediation of reproductive behaviour by the sociocultural situation, as well as the complementary influence of economic and cultural factors on demography. Moreover, comparative regional analysis revealed the importance of the spatial component in explaining demographic trends. This work brings new knowledge in the field of social sciences, and also allows better understanding the existing demographic trends in Kazakhstan. JEL Classification: A10; A14; E00; G00; H00; J10; J14