Abstract:
This paper discusses the main economic and social changes that have affected
the well-being of households in Akytubinsk Oblast in Kazakhstan and
describes the general responses of the households to these changes. The
analysis is based on secondary statistical data and on the results of a detailed
household survey conducted in the Oblast during 1996-1997. The
paper suggests that the economic policies that were designed to bring about
an improvement in economic efficiency in production and consumption units
have, at least in the short-run, contributed significantly to the complete or
partial withdrawal of households from the official socioeconomic structures.
This withdrawal has occurred extremely quickly and has acute implications
for further policy development. A number of these policy measures, aimed
at accelerating the reformalisation of the local economy, are discussed.
