The Economic Causes for the Protest Actions in Kazakhstan

Street protests and riots sometimes occur in countries around the world. In many studies, the authors explain them mainly by political, interethnic, and social reasons. However, the economic factors of protest actions have not been sufficiently studied. This paper aims to investigate and identify the economic reasons for the acute discontent of the population based on an analysis of the unrest in Kazakhstan in early 2022. According to our research, economic factors were the root of riots. The application of statistical and comparative analysis methods of indicators of income inequality, unemployment, and poverty enabled the identification of regions with the potential for protest actions. The main causes of unrest in the regions of Kazakhstan were poverty, and particularly the depth and acuity of poverty, rather than income inequality and unemployment, according to calculations using the econometric panel model of binary choice. The study’s findings point to the risk of imbalances in the nation’s socioeconomic development. Economic indicators can signal to the authorities the need for a timely response and support for the population in problematic regions to prevent street protests.