Government Of Kazakhstan Research Articles

Solution of Problems of Development of the Electronic Government in the Republic of Kazakhstan

In this work the questions connected with the solution of problems of development of the electronic government in Kazakhstan are considered. Character of such problems and a way of their solution are presented. The review of a number of the major features and the moments which reflect the main directions of electronization and informatization in Kazakhstan is executed. The short analysis of the main tendencies in development of the electronic government in Kazakhstan is made. The comparative characteristic of development of the electronic government is internationally provided in Kazakhstan.

Sulfur/Nitrogen Doped Carbon Nanotube Binder-Free Electrode for High Performance Li/S Batteries

Introduction Due to low cost, environmental friendliness and high theoretical capacity of sulfur, rechargeable Li/S batteries are very promising power sources for various applications. However, the insulating nature of sulfur and solubility of polysulfides as discharge products restrict its practical application [1]. Among the approaches to overcome these problems, carbon nanotubes are widely used to obtain a flexible conductive matrix for S cathode [2]. Nitrogen doping of carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) significantly improves its electronic conductivity because the nitrogen atoms provide additional free electrons for the conduction band [3].In this work, we report for the first time on a high performance S/N-CNT cathode for Li/S battery. Exclusion of heat-treatment in the composite preparation avoided the sulfur loss; the composite contained 61 wt% of sulfur. Thanks to the self-weaving behavior of N-CNT, binders and current collectors are rendered unnecessary, thereby simplifying the electrode manufacturing process and increasing the sulfur content in the total electrode weight. The N-CNT core provides a highly conductive and mechanically flexible framework, enhancing the electronic conductivity and consequently the rate capability of the material. This resulting composite cathode sustains 833 mAh g-1 reversible specific discharge capacity after 100 cycles at 0.1 C, and 676 mAh g-1at 1 C with a coulombic efficiensy about 100%. Experimental The S/N-CNT composite preparation is schematically shown in Fig. 1. Nitrogen doped carbon nanotubes were dispersed in deionized water by sonication at room temperature. The obtained N-CNT suspension was mixed ultrasonically with the aqueous suspension of nano-sulfur. The resulting system was vacuum-filtered and thoroughly washed with deionized water and ethanol. The binder-free S/N-CNT composite was obtained by further drying in a vacuum oven at 60 °C overnight to remove the solvent. Acknowledgments This research was supported by a Research Grant from the Ministry of Education and Science of Kazakhstan and by a Subproject supported under the Technology Commercialization Project by the World Bank and the Government of Kazakhstan.

Does reform in Kazakhstan improve access to childcare? Evidence from nationally-representative surveys

During Soviet era, Kazakhstan enjoyed universal free-of-charge access to childcare. After the commencement of economic and political transition, and the achievement of independence in 1991, attendance in childcare programs dropped significantly. This reduction in attendance was accompanied by a growing gap in access caused by wealth, language, mother's education, and regional disparities. Responding to the reduction in attendance as well as growing inequalities with respect to attendance, the government of Kazakhstan initiated a bold program of reforms aimed at improving access to childcare. This paper represents an initial assessment of the success of these reforms using a unique set of nationally-representative surveys. We found that, in general, the reform was successful in increasing childcare attendance. However, the results of the reform fell short of their target. However, the reform significantly reduced the role of household wealth as a barrier to attendance. Nevertheless, the wealth of a household remains an important determinant of attendance. Additionally, although the reform successfully mitigated gaps in attendance which were based on language spoken and education of mother, regional disparities remain significant.

Innovation in the Higher Economy and Finance Education: Developing a New Course of ‘Social Security and Pension Provision’

The issue of the essence of the efficient investment of pension savings - young but already fledgling institutional investors - pension funds (APF) of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its reflection in the higher education in economy and finance is addressed in this paper. Because, this issue is not only a concern of the Government of Kazakhstan and the financial market players (including the employees and the top management of pension funds), but is also a concern of the academicians, who are responsible for the educating the specialists for the above mentioned sector Main objective of this study is to discuss the outline of developing the educational and methodological complex for a new course of ‘Social security and pension provision’ that mainly covers the examination and the teaching of the problems of the pension provision with global perspective and under existing economic and social situation of country. The authors believe that, introducing such a new course as an elective discipline will improve the quality of higher financial education of Kazakhstan, since, the issue of social security and pensions was not handled as an independent course before. The new course ‘Social security and pension provision in the case of Kazakhstan’ will help - students to develop skills and knowledge which have critical importance for the future specialist of pension funds as this course will provide students with the theoretical tools and cases from the global practical experiences. Thus, this new course will enable them to interpret domestic social security and pension's reforms as well as to evaluate new technology and latest achievement for modernization of pension model of Republic of Kazakhstan.

Vers un État développeur au Kazakhstan ? Les bases institutionnelles de la transition économique

Although the government of Kazakhstan has largely ignored Washington Consensus-type recommendations for policy reform, the country exhibits remarkable economic growth, stable (though non-democratic) political conditions and a strong presidency. Thanks to increased world market prices for natural resources, the government has also been able to freely choose its public policies and construct politico-institutional structures of its own devising. These have helped it generate not only political stability but also social and economic progress. This system may lead one to ask whether Kazakhstan is an emerging developmental state. After having underscored a few of the distinctive criteria of the developmental state – a genuine commitment on the part of its leaders to the objective of development, certain state offices, certain politico-institutional foundations of economic government – the present article sheds light on the hybrid character of the Kazakh model, at once an ideal type and a reflection of national specificities. ■

Dynamic Modeling of Cost-effectiveness of Rotavirus Vaccination, Kazakhstan

The government of Kazakhstan, a middle-income country in Central Asia, is considering the introduction of rotavirus vaccination into its national immunization program. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of rotavirus vaccination spanning 20 years by using a synthesis of dynamic transmission models accounting for herd protection. We found that a vaccination program with 90% coverage would prevent ≈880 rotavirus deaths and save an average of 54,784 life-years for children <5 years of age. Indirect protection accounted for 40% and 60% reduction in severe and mild rotavirus gastroenteritis, respectively. Cost per life year gained was US $18,044 from a societal perspective and US $23,892 from a health care perspective. Comparing the 2 key parameters of cost-effectiveness, mortality rates and vaccine cost at <US $2.78 per dose, vaccination program costs would be entirely offset. To further evaluate efficacy of a vaccine program, benefits of indirect protection conferred by vaccination warrant further study.

Performing Transition in Mongolia: Repatriation and Loss in the Music of Kazakh Mobile Pastoralists

In 1991 the government of Kazakhstan began an effort to repatriate Kazakh peoples living outside of Kazakhstan in order to manage the significant cultural loss that had occurred during the Soviet period and to address national identity after the breakup of the Soviet Union. Kazakh residents of China, Mongolia, Turkey, Iran, and other locations were invited to return to their “historic homeland” where they were promised financial support, medical services, social assistance, housing, and land (UNDP 2006; Diener 2009). Many of the Kazakh families living outside of Kazakhstan are descendants of people who had been forced out or fled the country in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Of particular interest to the programme were the Kazakh people of Mongolia, whom organizers in Kazakhstan believed to have retained older cultural practices longer than Kazakhs in other locations due to the unique geo-cultural circumstances they shared with other mobile pastoralists (Diener 2007). Over 70,000 Kazakhs (more than 50 per cent of their population) moved from Mongolia to Kazakhstan during the two decades that followed. Despite this statistic, the programme has not been entirely successful, due partly to difficulties in its administration in Kazakhstan and partly to the reception of oralmandar (returnees) by permanent residents of the country. Mongolian Kazakh repatriates have also suffered due to a sense of loss and attachment to place, and some have subsequently decided to return to their home country—to Mongolia (Diener 2005, 2009; Barcus and Werner 2010).

Multi-modal Transportation Investment in Kazakhstan: Planning for Trade and Economic Development in a Post-Soviet Country

The collapse of the former Soviet Union has created huge economic hardship for its Central Asian member states. The insertion of country borders at the pre-existing borderless territories has increased transportation cost, disrupted economic linkage, and weakened the country's capability to maintain and modernize an adequate transportation system. This legacy is still quite visible in today's Kazakhstan, a country at the cross roads of Europe and Asia. We developed a 40-year plan for the transport sector in Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest country. Envisioning the desirability of increasing integration of the Central Asian territory, we examine the challenges and opportunities faced by the transport sector to carry out efficient domestic and regional shipment, and proposes multi-modal investment program for Kazakhstan government. Comparison of different investment options indicates that investment in multi-modal facilities is more cost-effective compared to expensive infrastructure projects.

Political Leadership and its Role in Achieving Good Governance in Kazakhstan

This article examines the role political leadership plays in achieving good governance in Kazakhstan, a post-communist country in Central Asia. Since its withdrawal from the USSR, Kazakhstan maintains an authoritative political leadership, where President Nazarbayev, his trusted “inner-circle,” and the stalwarts of the Nur Otan party effectively rule the country. Opposition political parties are weak and disorganized, and their leaders are not quite capable of mobilizing favorable public opinion. The finding of the study suggests that the Kazakhstani political leadership has limited success in achieving good governance in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan: Oil endowment and oil empowerment

Kazakhstan became a petro-state in the 1990s, after signing important oil production agreements with several transnational companies. In recent years, Kazakhstan's government has imposed the revision of former agreements on these corporations. This article contends that said revision has allowed the national players, government and the state oil company, to extend rent-seeking, but that the changes have not been deep enough to attain national oil empowerment. This means that national players do not control the oil cycle – from upstream to export trade – and are unable to secure continued expansion in the oil sector. Both key issues remain in the hands of the foreign companies, although their prominence has diversified following the entry of large Chinese and Russian companies.

Kazajstán: rentismo petrolero en evolución

During the past few years, the government of Kazakhstan has imposed on transnational companies a review of the agreements signed with them in the nineties, which had created a rentierist dynamics. The thesis in this article is that the initial agreements made Kazakhstan a petro-state. The subsequent review of these agreements caused the national players (government and state oil company) to increase the oil endowment, but this has not given oil empowerment to the country. Therefore, Kazakhstan still does not have the instruments to control its oil production and export, nor does it have the ability to guarantee the enlarged reproduction of the oil cycle. Those instruments and ability still remain in the hands of foreign companies, although they are more diversified after the arrival of the Chinese and Russian big companies.

The CIA made me do it: understanding the political economy of corruption in Kazakhstan

This article focuses on a widely publicized criminal prosecution recently completed in the U.S. District Court in New York City. It features an oil broker by the name of James Giffen who is accused of paying bribes totaling as high as $84 million dollars to high-ranking members of the government in Kazakhstan. This includes the President, the Prime Minister, and a former oil minister. Mainstream criminology tends to see these perpetrators as individual evil-doers who exploit opportunity structures, rational-choice purveyors of greed, or even as persons who experienced problems of social attachment as young people. To the contrary, this paper suggests that the pattern is firmly grounded in the geo-politics of oil in central Asia, in which governments and their multi-national oil companies are jockeying for lucrative oil reserves. In the instant case, there was circumstantial evidence that both the CIA, State Department, and even the Clinton White House knew what Mr. Giffen was doing in Kazakhstan, and looked the other way – so as to favor American, multi-national oil companies seeking low-cost oil leases from the Kazakhstan government.

International food prices, agricultural transformation, and food security in Central Asia

This study addresses the impact of global food prices on domestic food prices, the short-term policy responses taken by national governments, and major constraints on long-term food security in Central Asia. A surge in domestic food-price inflation in Central Asian countries was almost perfectly simultaneous with the spike in international food prices. Food-price inflation was spurred in part by adverse weather conditions in 2007, and exacerbated by the decision of the government of Kazakhstan to temporarily impose export tariffs and suspend wheat exports. The transformation of the region's agriculture since 1991 has changed the structure of agricultural production and led to reallocation of more land to food crops, improving food security in the region, and mitigating the negative consequences of rising international food prices. The article argues that the further improvement of food security in the region requires concerted efforts from governments to remove constraints on agricultural productivity.

Public sector reform in Kazakhstan: issues and perspectives

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate public sector reform (PSR) initiatives in Kazakhstan, and how such reform efforts have helped the government to be more responsive to the needs and demands of the citizens.Design/methodology/approachThe paper examined four key PSR initiatives: decentralization, Civil Service reform, e‐governance, and civil society in improving governance in post‐Soviet Kazakhstan.FindingsIn light of Kazakhstan government's efforts to reform the public sector, the study finds that substantial progress has been made in improving its service delivery systems and enhancing good governance.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is an investigation of four out of several PSR initiatives aimed at improving good governance.Originality/valueThe study provides insights into how aspects of PSR can be fundamentally useful in promoting good governance.

Russia's Very Secret Services

Russia's <i>Very</i> Secret Services

Decentralization and Local Governance in Kazakhstan

Decentralization stands at a crossroad of scholarly debate and discussion on governance issues, no less so in transition countries. This article examines the role of decentralization for the promotion of good local governance in Kazakhstan. Available evidence substantiates that decentralization has a limited capacity to contribute to good local governance in Kazakhstan. This raises a fundamental question as to whether the Kazakh government is politically ready to build an efficient and responsive local government in order to achieve its “Kazakhstan 2030” policy aspirations.

The University of Central Asia

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan, and by His Highness the Aga Khan, with the aim of offering an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and of producing knowledgeable, skilled, and creative graduates who will contribute leadership, ideas, and innovations to the transitioning economies and communities of the region. Campuses are located in the mountain communities of Khorog (Tajikistan), Naryn (Kyrgyz Republic), and Tekeli (Kazakhstan). UCA's mission is to promote the socioeconomic development of Central Asia's mountain societies, while at the same time helping the diverse peoples of the region to preserve and draw upon their rich cultural traditions and heritages as assets for the future.

Privatization in the Republic of Kazakhstan

In 1991 the Kazakhstan government has embarked on an ambitious economic reform program, in which privatization would be both the driving force and an important component for the successful transformation of the Kazakh economy. A fast transferal of government-owned assets and services to the private sector was regarded as the key to the success of all these transformation efforts. The paper provides an analyses of the first two phases of privatization process in Kazakhstan.

Democratisation Process in Kazakhstan

Throughout the 1990s the discussion on possible ‘models of development’ for the Central Asian Republics (CARs) dominated the intellectual discourse in the region. A number of developmental models were floated in each of the five countries of Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which resulted in the adoption of political institutions of democratic government and market-oriented economies soon after these nations attained independence in 1991. In the case of Kazakhstan, the current Constitution which was ratified in September 1995 provides for a democratic, secular state and a presidential system of government. In 1998, the Constitution was amended and the first election was held in January 1999 which resulted in the re-election of President Nazarbayev. Such developments in the democratisation of Kazakhstan politics have given the country a new identity in the post Soviet world. This article examines the process of democratisation in Kazakhstan in the post 1991 period, with particular focus on the reforms in the country’s political structure. It appears that although, the Kazakhstan government does crack down on some opposition groups and newspapers, the country has a strong basis on which it could move foreword to democratisation. As such, it also highlights the challenges that lie ahead in the democratic developments of the country.

Using Energy Resources to Diversify the Economy: Agricultural Price Distortions in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's government has used oil revenues to promote economic diversification, including a billion dollar 2003–2005 Agriculture and Food Program to reverse the 1990s decline in agricultural output. This paper provides estimates of producer support equivalents for the main agricultural products in order to establish whether announced policies actually improved incentives for farmers. Although the estimates are approximate, they present a pattern of price distortions working against farmers in the 1990s and moving strongly in their favour since 2001. In sum, quantification of price distortions supports the government's claim that it has used the country's energy resources to promote agriculture.