Regional trends in Kazakhstan

This chapter provides an assessment of regional trends and the opportunities and challenges the economy of Kazakhstan faces. The analysis starts with an overview of the macroeconomic and regulatory framework, which provides the setting for the analysis of regional trends. The territorial structure of Kazakhstan is discussed considering the implications of low population density and the presence of natural resources. It then considers the economic performance of regions, including their contribution to national growth and the role of the extractive industry, with regions classified according to their sectoral specialisation. This is followed by an assessment of the main drivers of productivity growth, including factors such as agglomeration economies, education, and infrastructures.