The paper examines the influence of resource wealth on the nature of economic development of Kazakhstan. Despite active economic dynamics in the 2000s, the effect of resource abundance has a negative impact on the quality characteristics of modern economic growth in the country. Kazakhstan is characterized by significant structural, territorial, social disparities, low international competitiveness of many commercial goods (even some commodities).

Digital technologies and their role in global economic development have been increasing the past two decades. Digitalization has changed many aspects of human society. It had a significant impact on business processes in international trade, reducing costs, increasing the value and speed of cross-border transactions. E-commerce is becoming the most important engine for economic growth. The article examines new digitalization trends in the context of the international trade development. Among the key trends caused by digitalization and affecting international trade, it highlights the following: 1) expanding of globally e-commerce sales and the world marketplaces turnover; 2) increasing the value of international trade in ICT goods and services, and digitally-deliverable services; 3) growth of world exports in services by mode 1 of supply, i.e. cross border supply. The problem of assessing the level of digitalization of the economy and its impact on trade is becoming more and more urgent. Many leading international organizations including OECD, WTO, IMF, UNCTAD are working on developing universal approaches to the formation of terminology in the field of digitalization of trade, measuring digital trade and classifying economic sectors depending on the level of digitalization. The study draws particular attention to these issues. The authors have systematized an extensive list of international indices. The first cluster includes indices characterizing the level of e-commerce markets development. The second cluster contains indices that assess the development of information and communication technologies. Finally, the third cluster of indices assesses penetration of digital technology into economy and life. Indices that assess digital trade policy measures were also examined

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To properly assess the extent of poverty in Kazakhstan it is important to understand the methodology of its definition and measurement. There are three basic concepts of measuring poverty. Absolute poverty is based on the establishment of a living wage or poverty line. The position of the World Bank is dominant in the world in the assessment of absolute poverty. The WB experts use multiple criteria income. An internationally accepted poverty line was established in 2005 at US$ 1.25 (PPP) per person per day. They also used less “hard” indicator of US$ 2 per day (in constant 2005 prices) which is the median poverty line for all developing countries. For the transitional economies WB applies poverty line based on the differential absolute poverty equal to US$ 4.3 (before 1999 – US$ 4), for developed economies – US$ 11. According to a relative concept, the category of poor includes individuals and households with income clearly insufficient to live on prevailing community standards of consumption. This approach is used primarily for the developed countries. For example, in the EU the relative poverty is defined at the level of 60% of the median per capita income. Subjective approach (developed by Leiden University, Netherlands) takes into account people’s own estimates of their welfare status. In terms of Kazakhstan, the author states that any one-dimensional approach will fail to estimate the real extent of poverty and deprivation of the population. International and national statistics fail to provide an accurate picture of the number of poor in the country and the dynamics of poverty. According to national and WB statistics, in recent decades Kazakhstan showed substantial progress in reducing poverty. However, this was achieved largely due to maintaining rather low official levels of subsistence and cost of minimum food basket. Establishment of these indicators is mainly determined by political considerations, thus it lacks objectivity. For a country aiming to improve competitiveness of its economy and to achieve the level and quality of life comparable to developed countries the focus on a poverty criteria that is close to the standards of the poorest developing countries is not acceptable. Actually, the poverty situation in Kazakhstan continues to be a serious challenge. This is evidenced by the materials of international statistics based on criteria of poverty for countries in transition; by a quite high proportion of household spending on food and the relatively low (as compared to many Eastern European countries) national poverty line. It is concluded that a large-scale poverty still persists in Kazakhstan despite high rates of economic growth.