Features of the management of small towns in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

This article analyzes problems and shows possible prospects for effective socio-economic development of small towns, suggests tools for developing independent strategies for their sustainable functioning. At present, the management bodies of small towns of regional importance in Kazakhstan are at the very bottom of the existing power vertical and are actually deprived of both administrative and financial resources necessary for planning and implementing the development policy of their administrative-territorial units. Meanwhile, the international practice of local economic development shows that its effectiveness rises sharply if the planning of development programs occurs from below and is provided with the necessary means for their implementation. In Kazakhstan, the process of local economic development is still highly centralized. If the existing situation is not changed in favor of transferring large administrative powers and independent financial resources to the lower levels of government, a qualitative breakthrough in the development of small towns will not be made. Consequently, the assessment of the socio-economic development of small towns, the identification of specific features and problems in their functioning is becoming increasingly important at the present time.