Housing price appreciation and economic integration in a transition economy: Evidence from Kazakhstan

Abstract

This paper explores patterns of real estate price movements in an emerging upper-middle income economy, Kazakhstan. The country experienced an explosive, 11-fold increase in real housing prices in urban areas between 2000 and 2007, followed by a sharp decline and stabilization. This paper traces the movements across different regions, types of housing, unit size categories, and neighborhood types. We find that prices moved together closely, implying a linked, if not unified housing market, along with wealth effects that were felt broadly throughout the urban economy.