Methods and Practice of Assessing the Level of Inclusive Regional Development of Kazakhstan

Abstract

In Kazakhstan, the inequality of economic, social, and innovative development of regions and the population has increased in recent years. The purpose of this work is to assess the level of differences between Kazakhstan’s regions in social, economic, innovative and infrastructural inclusivity and to offer recommendations for reducing regional inequality. The methods of comparative analysis, economic and statistical, generalizations, index, matrix, typology, absolute and relative indicators of inclusiveness are used. The author’s methodological approach is applied based on the index method and ranking. The study hypothesis is that the high level of economic inequality in the regions determines the high level of differences in the sphere of social inclusion, innovation and inclusion in the sphere of infrastructure. Calculations of private and integral indices showed that the differences in social inclusivity of the regions amounted to 3.37 times; economic inclusivity – 7.45; infrastructure – 2.96; innovation – 6.67. A matrix of regional inclusive development has been formed based on the gradation of assessments. The conclusion is made about the contradictory picture in the levels of inclusiveness of economic, social and innovative development of the regions of Kazakhstan. The proposed methodology can be expanded and optimized for regions, population groups, and specific tasks in the field of inclusive growth. Recommendations have been developed to improve Kazakhstan’s regional policy, reform the tax system, and increase the budget self-sufficiency of regions in the interests of inclusive development.