The sectoral approach has traditionally served as the principal tool for analyzing regional specialization; however, it does not reveal the functional content of employment or the distribution of tasks within economic activities. This article assesses the degree of correspondence between the functional structure of employment and the sectoral structure of output across 17 harmonized regions of Kazakhstan, a resource-dependent post-Soviet economy, over the period 2019–2024. Regional functional profiles are constructed within the task-based framework and comprise four aggregate task categories: non-routine cognitive (NRC), routine cognitive (RC), routine manual (RM), and non-routine manual (NRM). The sectoral structure is represented by the distribution of nominal output across 47 sectors. Inter-regional differences are measured using Jensen–Shannon distance. The empirical analysis is conducted on a dyadic panel of 816 observations, controlling for region size, urbanization, gross regional product per capita, extractive specialization, geographic distance, and time effects. Primary statistical inference relies on the Freedman–Lane permutation procedure within multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure (MRQAP). The results indicate a positive but moderate association between the two structures. The standardized coefficient on functional distance is 0.300 (MRQAP p = 0.001). Including the task variable raises R2 by 5.5 percentage points. The finding remains robust under most alternative distance metrics, different sets of control variables, and sequential exclusion of individual regions. However, the association weakens noticeably when the three largest cities—concentrating a substantial share of non-routine cognitive tasks—are excluded simultaneously. Within-region estimates of correspondence for 2019–2024 are considerably less precise. Pair fixed-effects models and correlations based on net change and cumulative path length do not reveal a systematic contemporaneous relationship between changes in functional and sectoral structures over the observed period. The six-year observation window does not allow the longer-term pattern of their coevolution or possible lagged adjustment to be determined. Overall, functional and sectoral structures are related but not interchangeable. The results provide statistically supported evidence of a positive inter-regional association, although its strength varies by distance metrics and regional subsamples. For regional policy, the findings underscore the value of combining sectoral specialization indicators with information on the characteristics of jobs and accumulated labor competencies.

This paper examines the relationship between the functional complexity of Kazakhstan’s regions and sectoral diversification of employment. Functional complexity is measured using the Functional Fitness index, constructed from a «region-year-occupation» matrix and capturing revealed occupational specialization without subjectively assigned occupation weights. Sectoral diversification is assessed through normalized employment entropy and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) across economic activities. The empirical basis is a balanced panel of 17 regions over six years of 2019-2024. The results indicate that regions with higher average functional complexity exhibit more diversified sectoral structures and lower sectoral concentration of employment. Between-region regressions confirm a positive relationship between Functional Fitness and normalized entropy, and a negative association with the HHI. At the same time, fixed-effects and Mundlak specifications show that this relationship primarily reflects persistent cross-regional differences rather than short-run changes within regions. Thus, the highest functional complexity is observed in Astana and Almaty cities whose functional profiles are dominated by post-industrial functions, whereas East Kazakhstan, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, and Akmola regions reflect agrarian-industrial structures. The paper contributes to the literature on regional economic diversification by adapting fitness-complexity logics to the occupational structure of employment and applying it to regional development in Kazakhstan.

В статье предпринята попытка комплексной оценки параметров научно-инновационного развития общественного сектора Республики Казахстан. Оценка научного потенциала и результативности его использования осуществлялась на основе оценки объемов и структуры затрат на научные исследования по источникам финансирования, объемов и структуры затрат на НИОКР по видам наук, объемов и структуры затрат на исследования и разработки по секторам, а также структуры валовых затрат на исследования и разработки по видам экономической деятельности. Выявлено, что общественный сектор в целом лучше обеспечен ресурсами для проведения научных исследований, чем прочие сектора национальной экономики Казахстана. Динамика инновационной активности в общественном секторе осуществлялась на основе оценки структуры затрат на внедрение инноваций по источникам финансирования, структуры затрат на технологические инновации по видам экономической деятельности и структура реализованной инновационной продукции по отраслям национальной экономики Казахстана. Обосновано, что инновационная активность в общественном секторе республики значительно ниже, чем в прочих ее секторах, в особенности в обрабатывающей промышленности, что приводит к низкой конкурентоспособности производимых общественных благ. The article attempts a comprehensive assessment of parameters of scientific and innovative development of the public sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The assessment of scientific potential and effectiveness of its use was carried out on the basis of an assessment of the volume and structure of research costs by sources of funding, the volume and structure of R&D costs by type of science, the volume and structure of research and development costs by sector, as well as the structure of gross research and development costs by type of economic activity. It is revealed that the public sector as a whole is better provided with resources for scientific research than other sectors of the national economy of Kazakhstan. The dynamics of innovative activity in the public sector was carried out on the basis of an assessment of the structure of costs for innovation by sources of financing, the structure of costs for technological innovations by types of economic activity and the structure of innovative products sold by sectors of the national economy of Kazakhstan. It is proved that innovative activity in the public sector of the republic is significantly lower than in other sectors, especially in the manufacturing, which leads to low competitiveness of the produced public goods.

Object: To determine the directions for the development of PPP tools in the field of financing innovative projects aimed at improving the manufacturability of MMC enterprises.Methods: Statistical data processing, system, logical, analogies and modeling methods.Results: It is possible to summarize a number of problematic issues in the development of public-private partnership (PPPs): insufficient growth rates in the dynamics of the number of PPP projects, their imbalances by industry branch, lack of effective projects in the real sector of the economy, non-effective selection mechanism, which negatively affects budgetary efficiency, fragmentation and ambiguity of the regulatory framework of the PPP mechanism and a number of others.Conclusions: To increase the level of digitalization of the Mining and Metallurgical Complex of Kazakhstan, the institutional model of PPP was demonstrated by creating a single operator for the development and promotion of technologies Industry 4.0.It is necessary to expand the functionality of Zerde National Infocommunication Holding, the Alatau Information Technology Park special economic zone, and the Astana Hub International Technopark of IT startups.The state partner solves the problems of developing digital technologies through the development of cooperation among domestic and foreign IT companies, an important criterion for this task is the high competitiveness and commercialization of projects, as well as unification for implementation in the activities of MMC enterprises.At the stage of distribution of digital solutions, more emphasis should be placed on supporting industry associations: the mining and metallurgical complex, the IT sector.Increasing the institutional responsibility of these structures will reduce the risks of state participation, as well as increase the level of trust on the part of private business.

The current stage of development of Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). countries indicates that these states are being forced not only to re-industrialize, but to industrialize their economies almost from scratch, since their industries, for known political reasons, were completely destroyed or are technologically obsolete. This article investigates innovative factors in the development of re-industrialization processes in the countries of the EAEU based on the development and implementation of targeted national policy. The study puts forward a hypothesis about the existence of a dependence between the rates of innovative development of countries, on the one hand, and foreign direct investment and research and development (R&D). expenditures, as well as trends in industrial production development, on the other, as a summary indicator of the reindustrialization of the national economy. To confirm the hypothesis, the following methods were used: statistical analysis, which allowed the primary processing of data that describe the dynamics of indicators of innovative development of countries and its factors, and a comparative analysis of the innovative development of the countries of the EAEU, which constitute the object of this study. The first part provides a sequential analysis of changes in specific indicators describing the innovative development of the countries under consideration, as well as factors that, according to the hypothesis, have a significant impact on it, thereby enabling the evaluation of the general trends in the dynamics of innovative processes within the selected object of this study. In the second part, through the establishment of correlations between the factors and results of the innovative development of countries, measures are proposed to improve the national policy of innovative development and re-industrialization.

Статья посвящена исследованию развития межрегионального экономического взаимодействия в Республике Казахстан посредством анализа товарооборота Карагандинской области с другими регионами страны. Авторами проанализированы объем и структура межрегиональных товаропотоков, все регионы страны сгруппированы в зависимости от объемов товарооборота с Карагандинской областью. Опираясь на положения базовых теорий пространственной экономики и международной торговли, авторы выдвинули гипотезу о том, что более сильные связи возникают между регионами со схожей структурой промышленности. В результате анализа межрегиональных грузопотоков было выявлено, что с Карагандинской областью наиболее активно взаимодействуют Восточно-Казахстанская, Павлодарская и Костанайская области, одной из отраслей специализации которых является металлургия. Это свидетельствует о том, что схожесть структуры экономики является более значимым фактором для интенсивности межрегиональных связей нежели географическая близость. Структура экономики во многом определяет формы и типы межрегионального экономического взаимодействия. Авторами обоснованы выводы о преимущественно ресурсной интеграции Карагандинской области с другими регионами страны, отсутствии горизонтальных экономических связей, крайне слабом уровне генерации новых видов продукции, позволяющих усилить существующие и создать новые связи. The article is devoted to the study of the development of interregional economic cooperation in the Republic of Kazakhstan by analyzing the trade turnover of the Karaganda region with other regions of the country. The authors analyzed the volume and structure of interregional commodity flows, all regions of the country are grouped depending on the volume of trade with the Karaganda region. Based on the provisions of the basic theories of spatial economics and international trade, the authors hypothesized that stronger ties arise between regions with a similar industrial structure. As a result of the analysis of interregional cargo flows, it was revealed that the East Kazakhstan, Pavlodar and Kostanay regions interact most actively with the Karaganda region, one of the branches of specialization of which is metallurgy. This indicates that the similarity of the structure of the economy is a more significant factor for the intensity of interregional ties than geographical proximity. The structure of the economy largely determines the forms and types of interregional economic cooperation. The authors substantiate the conclusions about the predominantly resource integration of the Karaganda region with other regions of the country, the absence of horizontal economic ties, an extremely weak level of generation of new types of products that allow strengthening existing and creating new ties.

The article considers the problems arising in the implementation of energy-saving technologies in the housing and communal services sector of Kazakhstan, including the example of specific situations. Despite the global trend of energy saving and increasing the energy efficiency of production and service provision, there is almost no introduction of energy-saving technologies by utility companies in Kazakhstan. After reviewing the experience of the previous 10 years and the unsuccessful attempts of Western manufacturers to enter this market, we identified the reasons for this situation, namely, the need to identify the exact institutional need for implementation with reference to the Kazakhstan regulatory framework, the need to consider the financial effect of the projects, not according to the prices of the producing countries (which are usually Western countries, where utility bills are much higher) but the Kazakhstan energy prices and/or tariffs for the necessary resources, as well as the necessity to calculate the economic and/or social effectiveness of the project. The authors present the results of the analysis of public utilities of Kazakhstan as DMUs (decision-making units). Data envelopment analysis (DEA) was chosen as the method of analysis, which allows for a nonparametric evaluation of economic agents by several input and output parameters. The authors also propose aspects of technical policy aimed at the development of energy conservation in Kazakhstan.

Object: the aim is to justify and determine the algorithm of actions of greening the production processes of MMC of Kazakhstan as an effective mechanism of technological development and modernization of the industry.Methods: the method of system analysis, the method of secondary information collection, the method of goal structuring were used during the study.Results: comprehensive analysis on formation, accumulation and use directions of man-made mineral formations was given, the main problems of use of man-made mineral formations were identified, the main steps to determine the direction of greening of production processes in the mining-metallurgical industry were determined.Conclusions: a common problem for the entire industry of the mining-metallurgical complex of the republic is the lack of a system for the regular collection and analysis of information on man-made sources of mineral raw materials. Only an approximate quantification of their levels of education can be made in the present. The study of man-made mineral formations will greatly help to create a monitoring system and a database of man-made mineral formations. In order to green the MMC comprehensive geological and technological studies of man-made deposits (mine dumps, tailings of processing plants, slag of metallurgical plants, etc.) should be carried out with an assessment of the quality of useful man-made mineral forms, the extraction of ores that are profitable for mining, and the contouring of productive deposits.

The purpose of this research is to assess the innovative susceptibility of the national economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan through analysis and assessment of the potential and performance of the domestic innovation system.Research methods. Based on groups of capacity indicators (number of organizations performing R&D, number of employees engaged in R&D, internal R&D costs, issued security documents on industrial property, costs of product and process innovations) and performance (innovation activity, number of organizations that have created and use new technologies and facilities, number of such technologies and facilities, volume of innovative products sold) authors calculate specific indicators relative to the number of employed, the volume of GDP and the number of active legal entities. These figures are then converted into indices and compared in the dynamics for the period 2008-2018.Results of the research. The article justifies the concept of “innovative receptivity.” The main actors of the innovation process are revealed, their contribution to the generation of innovations and the implementation of innovative solutions is described. The authors developed a methodology for assessing innovative susceptibility through the use of specific indicators and an index method. The indicators of potential and efficiency of the innovation system of Kazakhstan have been calculated.Conclusions. The results show that the potential index has a clear tendency to deteriorate, and the performance index- to improve. The absence of interlinkages between indices shows that science and business are losing connections within the national innovation system, the basis of innovative development of Kazakhstan is now technology transfer, but not own innovative solutions.

The purpose of this research is to assess the innovative susceptibility of the national economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan through analysis and assessment of the potential and performance of the domestic innovation system.Research methods. Based on groups of capacity indicators (number of organizations performing R&D, number of employees engaged in R&D, internal R&D costs, issued security documents on industrial property, costs of product and process innovations) and performance (innovation activity, number of organizations that have created and use new technologies and facilities, number of such technologies and facilities, volume of innovative products sold) authors calculate specific indicators relative to the number of employed, the volume of GDP and the number of active legal entities. These figures are then converted into indices and compared in the dynamics for the period 2008-2018.Results of the research. The article justifies the concept of “innovative receptivity.” The main actors of the innovation process are revealed, their contribution to the generation of innovations and the implementation of innovative solutions is described. The authors developed a methodology for assessing innovative susceptibility through the use of specific indicators and an index method. The indicators of potential and efficiency of the innovation system of Kazakhstan have been calculated.Conclusions. The results show that the potential index has a clear tendency to deteriorate, and the performance index- to improve. The absence of interlinkages between indices shows that science and business are losing connections within the national innovation system, the basis of innovative development of Kazakhstan is now technology transfer, but not own innovative solutions.

Object: To explore the conceptual basis for determining the innovative susceptibility of economic actors and their influence factors.Methods: The methodological basis of the study was evolutionary theory of economic growth, concepts of innovation process and innovative susceptibility. Methods of systematic and institutional analysis of processes of perception of innovation in national and regional innovation systems were used.Results: Exogenous (type of economic system, openness of economy, place in the international division of labor) and endogenous (competition, institutions, innovative potential) factors of innovative development have been identified. Exogenous factors do not depend directly on the activities of the firm, and often overall state, but the dynamics of these factors should be taken into account in the process of implementation of both innovation policies of the state and innovation projects of the firms. More important for entrepreneurs are endogenous factors. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that the main part of potential innovative shifts is created in the sphere of generation of new knowledge, where human activity is determined not by technological logic of production, but by laws and incentives of creative process. In this regard, the fundamental feature of internal factors of innovative development is that a new variable is introduced - intellectual capital, characterizing the volume of accumulated scientific knowledge and practical experience. A detailed assessment of innovation susceptibility factors allows them to be classified by place of origin within the existing innovation process: environmental factors, business factors, legal regulatory factors, social factors and science factors.Conclusions: Identification of factors of innovative susceptibility of economic relations subjects allows defining parameters of innovative interaction of innovative companies with external and internal elements of innovation process.

Effective innovative systems testify to the success of regional economic policies. Based on the neoclassical approach novel approach towards evalution of regional innovation system functioning is suggested. In this study, the performance indicators of innovative systems in the regions of Kazakhstan are calculated using the non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method for a convex model, with constant and variable effects of scale, focused on maximum outputs and minimum resource costs. The obtained results will facilitate providing recommendations for improving economic policy for the purposes of more efficient use of resources in regional innovation activities.

Экономическая интеграция является важным двигателем развития национальных экономик. Учитывая же, что основу конкурентоспособности современной экономики составляет наличие динамично развивающегося инновационного бизнеса, авторы предлагают свой взгляд на возможности и механизмы развития казахстанского инновационного бизнеса в рамках Евразийского экономического союза (ЕАЭС). В статье авторами на основе проведенного в 2015-2017гг. исследования возможностей и перспектив формирования и развития единой наднациональной национальной инновационной системы ЕАЭС кратко раскрываются ключевые проблемы казахстанского инновационного бизнеса, схематично описываются инструменты и возможности, предоставляемые ЕАЭС инновационным фирмам Казахстана, и предлагаются три базовых механизма, на которых должна строиться единая наднациональная инновационная система ЕАЭС (механизм обмена информацией об имеющихся инновационных проектах; механизм доступа к ресурсам; механизм создания и поддержки совместных инновационных предприятий и фирм). Наложенные на расширенную схему инновационного процесса, предлагаемые механизмы позволяют проиллюстрировать новое содержание сотрудничества между инновационными фирмами и субъектами инновационной инфраструктуры в рамках ЕАЭС и получить представление о дополнительных возможностях, которые дает создание совместных фирм и предприятий.

In the article the authors reveal the positions of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, which are occupied in the global innovation index. They compare the parameters of citation of scientists of EurAsEC member countries; assess the opportunities for interaction between the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union from the position of SWOT-analysis. In addition, they present the results of an expert survey of scientists, entrepreneurs-innovators, employees of subjects of innovation infrastructure and state organizations responsible for supporting the development of scientific research and the introduction of innovations. The authors conclude that the main direction of cooperation should be joint work on innovative projects, and the key role of EurAsEC structures should be promoted by equalization of the conditions for the development of innovative firms in all countries and the formation of special interstate development institutions.