Abstract
Considering the increasing imbalance in the economic development of urbanised territories of Kazakhstan, examining the impact of urbanisation on the economic growth of cities to ensure their innovative development is necessary. This study analyses trends and problems of the impact of urbanisation on urban development on the example of Kazakhstan. The article focuses on urban development and related processes that will open new opportunities for Kazakhstan to accelerate economic growth and improve living standards. The works of local researchers do not show the relationship between the levels of urban and economic development in different regions of the country and the impact of urbanisation on this process. To supplement previous studies, we used statistical and comparative analysis methods. Moreover, we compared the current state of urban development in Kazakhstan with the situation in other countries. The obtained empirical estimates confirm the correlation between the level of urbanisation of a country and its economic growth. Without a holistic approach to urban management, it is difficult to establish the directions, principles and development strategies for Kazakhstan’s cities and megacities to follow. Thus, we identified the main directions for economic growth of urbanised territories of Kazakhstan: proper control and management of urbanisation, flexible management, development of appropriate policies for different regions of the country, use of best practices in developing urban strategies. We recommend considering the analysis of urban management in the broader context, and not only as a task of implementing regional economic growth. For that purpose, it is necessary to create an integrated multi-level management system that provides feedback and preventive management, classifying the consequences of urban policy in the regions and the effects of achieving the country’s strategic development goals. Therefore, the Kazakh government should at least review its functions and responsibilities and look for solutions to achieve a tangible synergistic effect.
Highlights
Urbanisation is one of the pillars of the Strategy for development of the Republic of Kazakhstan until the year 20501
Urbanisation in the post-Soviet republics, including Kazakhstan, first appeared in the era of the USSR, when industrial factors influenced the formation of cities [16, p. 88]
Cities were closely integrated into production chains throughout the country, and not into the local economy [27, p. 107]
Summary
Urbanisation is one of the pillars of the Strategy for development of the Republic of Kazakhstan until the year 2050 (the Kazakhstan-2050 Strategy). Urbanisation reflects the social development and indicates the country’s position in the global economy since cities have long been the centres of human, financial, technical, information and organisational resources. They are a driving force for economic development because, in recent decades, urbanisation has become especially important for economic growth and job creation, but for social development. The United Nations (UN) recently reported that more than half of the world’s population currently lives in cities, and it is predicted that by 2050, this figure will increase by two thirds. Global interest in the features, models, factors and principles of urban development is growing for many reasons: the increase in population mobility, the creation of a post-industrial
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
