Publication: Dimensions of Poverty in Kazakhstan, Volume 1. Policy Briefing
Date
2004-11-09
ISSN
Published
2004-11-09
Author(s)
World Bank
Abstract
This report assesses the living
conditions in Kazakhstan during 2001-2002, especially as
concerning the poor. Based upon consultations with the
Government, research institutes, and nongovernmental
organizations, three key questions related to poverty were
identified as critical to understanding the current
situation, and to developing a poverty reduction strategy.
These questions are: a) what is the current poverty
situation in Kazakhstan, b) what has been the impact of
economic growth on poverty, and, c) how effective is the
social protection system in alleviating poverty. Six main
findings on poverty in Kazakhstan are worth highlighting: 1)
Housing poverty and the broader problem of poor quality of
basic infrastructure services are prevalent. 2) Rural
poverty in particular did not appear to benefit
significantly from growth, since it decreased only
marginally in these high growth years. 3) The greatest
source of inequality in Kazakhstan is the divergence of
living conditions across oblasts-whether measured using
indicators of consumption expenditures, incomes, usage of
services, or health indicators. 4) Though the quality of
education cannot be judged from the Household Budget Survey,
the productivity of the future labor force could be in
jeopardy since an estimated 50 percent of young adults-25-29
year olds-have a secondary school, or lower degree. 5)
Infant mortality rates are high. 6) The best program for
transferring income to the poor is the Targeted Social
Assistance Program, though it requires strengthening of its
coverage, and benefit levels.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“World Bank. 2004. Dimensions of Poverty in Kazakhstan, Volume 1. Policy Briefing. © Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15664 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”