National Human Development Report 2016: Kazakhstan

The choice of a theme for this report has been determined by the country’s immediate challenge: reducing regional disparities and achieving a balanced regional development. The diverse natural conditions, inherited social, economic and spatial structures and the dynamics of development over the last few decades have led to disparities in economic and infrastructure development, employment, incomes and quality of life among the regions of Kazakhstan. The report takes a “whole of development” perspective, including not only economic growth, innovation and productivity, but also fundamental targets of social progress and sustainability. The authors tried to combine a quantitative approach to measure both capabilities and economic complexities, as well sustainable development pathways of regions based on their economic diversification, historical evolution in skills development, and other considerations.