Energy Intensity of Kazakhstan’s Gdp: Factors for Its Decrease in a Resource-Export Developing Economy

Abstract

Kazakhstan continues to use several times more energy per production unit than more developed countries and regions of the world. This study is the first comprehensive review and analysis of energy intensity factors of Kazakhstan's gross domestic product for the priod of 1990-2018. We have studied the influence of various factors on the GDP energy intensity: Indicators characterizing the country's economic growth, power industry and living standards development. Calculations made have shown that the most significant influence on improving the energy efficiency of the economy is exerted by the indicators of Net Energy Imports and GDP per capita at PPP. The calculated elasticity coefficient shows that with an increase in the value of Net Energy Imports by 1%, the expected decrease in energy intensity shall be 0.85%. With an increase in GDP per capita of 1%, the expected decrease in energy intensity shall be 0.44%. However, in Kazakhstan, the influence of GDP per capita is mediated by the export of energy resources, which is confirmed by the high correlation between GDP growth, total energy production and export. We are concluding that for the developing economy of Kazakhstan exporting energy resources, the conversion of primary energy into products with high added value is more rational for economic development and energy conservation.

The Effect of Electricity Generation, Thermal Energy Production, Fixed Capital Investment, and Consumer Price Index on Economic Growth in Kazakhstan

“…They suggested strategies for Kazakhstan, such as improving the energy consumption structure, developing renewable energy, using cleaner new production technologies, adjusting the industrial structure accordingly, and expanding forest areas. Kurmanov et al (2020), in their article titled "Energy Intensity of Kazakhstan's GDP: Factors for its Decrease in a Resource-export Developing Economy," revealed that Kazakhstan continues to use several times more energy per production unit than the more developed countries and regions of the world. They examined the impact of various factors on GDP energy intensity, such as indicators that characterize the country's economic growth, energy industry, and living standards.…”

Innovative Development of Kazakhstan’s Raw Material (Oil and Gas) Regions: Multifactorial Model for Empirical Analysis

“…In our previous studies (Kurmanov et al, 2020), results of the analysis of Kazakhstan's raw material regions indicate a low level of innovation activity, instability of regional development, which predetermines the strengthening of the search for factors and new tools and measures to ensure the boost of the existing potential for the creation and implementation of regional innovation with oil and gas production's predominance in the economy.…”

Ecological–Economical and Ethno-Cultural Determinants of the Development of Organic Farming in Kazakhstan

“…Kazakhstan has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) in the region (USD 221 billion, 2023) and GDP per capita, which increased by 13.5% compared to the previous year-from USD 11,500 to USD 13,300 [6]. The gross product of the country is characterized by a high share of industry (42%), mainly mining, and an average share for the service sector (54%) [2,7], equal to its neighbors Russia and China but significantly lagging behind Western economies. The share of agriculture, traditionally considered an industry of specialization in Kazakhstan since the Soviet period, in GDP in the last decade has fluctuated within 5% and has tended to decrease slightly, with a continuously high proportion of people employed in the industry, 10% of the economically active population.…”