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The Al-Farabi Kazakh National University hosted a round table on "Income inequality and poverty in the regions of Kazakhstan: dimensions, structural determinants and social policy", organized as part of the grant financing project.

The event was aimed at a comprehensive scientific understanding of the problems of poverty and income inequality in the country's regions, improving methodological approaches to their measurement and monitoring, identifying key structural factors, as well as shaping social policy priorities. The round table was attended by representatives of international organizations, government agencies, the scientific community, teachers, young scientists and doctoral students.

Opening the meeting, Acting Dean of the Higher School of Economics and Business Zhanna Ermekova stressed that the problem of social inequality is of fundamental importance for the sustainable development of the country.
"Today we are talking not just about statistics, but about the quality of life of the population. Income inequality reflects deep socio-economic processes, the understanding of which is necessary for the development of effective public policy",- she said.

The moderator was the Head of the Department of Economics, Professor Galiya Dauliyeva, who emphasized the practical significance of the scientific discussion.

The key report was delivered by Metin Nebiler, Senior Economist for Poverty and Inequality in Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank. He stressed that the quality of data plays a crucial role in decision-making: "Without reliable and comparable data, it is impossible to build an effective policy. It is important to understand not only the level of poverty, but also its structure, dynamics and regional differences".

Analytical reports were also made by representatives of the Bureau of National Statistics – Meirambek Zhumadildin and Samal Kereybayeva, Deputy Director General for Science of the Institute of Economics of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor Zaure Chulanova, Deputy Director of the Department of Social Assistance of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Asia Kurmankulova, as well as PhD researcher, Associate Professor of AlmaU Zhansaya Temirbulatova.

During the discussion, special attention was paid to regional differences, the role of human capital, the state of the labor market, infrastructural constraints, and the interaction of government, science, and international organizations. KazNU doctoral student Anar Ismagulova noted that poverty assessment should take into account not only income, but also "public access to education, healthcare, infrastructure and basic services".

Following the results of the round table, practical recommendations were formulated aimed at improving the mechanisms of social policy and developing scientific research in the field of regional income differentiation and poverty levels.

Press-service of 91��ý Kazakh National University