Gender-Inclusive Human Capital and Innovation Performance in Kazakhstan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47703/ejgs.v3i2.118Keywords:
Human Capital, Gender, Gender Equality, Gender Inclusion, Technological Modernization, Innovation, Innovation EfficiencyAbstract
Technological modernization of the economy depends not only on the volume of investments in research and development, but also on the quality of human capital and the degree of its gender-inclusive use. The purpose of the study is to assess the relationship between gender-inclusive human capital and innovation performance in Kazakhstan. The information base consists of annual data for Kazakhstan for 2015-2024, obtained from the materials of the World Bank, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. Methods of descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analysis, as well as a panel model with fixed effects are applied. The results of the national regression showed a positive and statistically significant relationship between the Gender Human Capital Index and the Global Innovation Index. The explanatory power of the model was R2 = 0.986, adjusted R2 = 0.980. The coefficients of the total Human Capital Index and research and development expenditures did not reach statistical significance at the level of 5%. The results of the regional model also confirmed a positive relationship between gender-inclusive human capital and patent activity: the coefficient of the regional index was 2.34 at p = 0.009, and the coefficient of the gross regional product per capita was 0.67 at p = 0.035. The results show that a more complete inclusion of women's human capital in education, employment, entrepreneurship, and technology industries is associated with an increase in Kazakhstan's innovation performance.
Downloads
References
Abdulla, K., & Serikbayeva, B. (2024). Gender gaps in labor market outcomes in a resource-dependent country. Resources Policy, 90, Article 104685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2024.104685
Aghion, P., & Howitt, P. (1992). A model of growth through creative destruction. Econometrica, 60(2), 323–351. https://doi.org/10.2307/2951599
Alpysbayev, K., Mukhamadiyeva, A., Kanabekova, M., Orazgaliyeva, A., & Balapanova, E. (2024). Gender analysis of the global labour market and comparative analysis of Kazakhstan, 2019–2021. Applied Econometrics and International Development, 24(1), 1–18. https://ideas.repec.org/a/eaa/aeinde/v24y2024i1_1.html
Ashwin, S. (Ed.). (2000). Gender, state and society in Soviet and post-Soviet Russia. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203135730
Becker, G. S. (1993). Human capital: A theoretical and empirical analysis, with special reference to education (3rd ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Bekbossinova, A., & Zips, S. (2024). The labour market through the prism of gender: The case of Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Gender Studies, 1(2), 28–39. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejgs.v1i2.11
Brainerd, E. (2000). Women in transition: Changes in gender wage differentials in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Industrial and Labor Relations Review, 54(1), 138–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/001979390005400108
Bureau of National Statistics. (2025). Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Retrieved March 15, 2026, from https://stat.gov.kz/en/
Cuberes, D., & Teignier, M. (2016). Aggregate effects of gender gaps in the labor market: A quantitative estimate. Journal of Human Capital, 10(1), 1–32. https://doi.org/10.1086/683847
Duflo, E. (2003). Grandmothers and granddaughters: Old-age pensions and intrahousehold allocation in South Africa. The World Bank Economic Review, 17(1), 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/wber/lhg013
Duflo, E. (2012). Women empowerment and economic development. Journal of Economic Literature, 50(4), 1051–1079. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.50.4.1051
Freeman, C. (1987). Technology policy and economic performance: Lessons from Japan. Pinter Publishers.
Kenzheali, Y. (2025). Structural shifts in Kazakhstan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem: A gender-sensitive analysis. Eurasian Journal of Gender Studies, 2(4), 5–19. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejgs.v2i4.86
Kireyeva, A. A., & Satybaldin, A. A. (2019). Analysis of gender pay gap in different sectors of the economy in Kazakhstan. The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 6(2), 231–238. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2019.vol6.no2.231
Lucas, R. E. (1988). On the mechanics of economic development. Journal of Monetary Economics, 22(1), 3–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3932(88)90168-7
Lundvall, B.-Å. (Ed.). (1992). National systems of innovation: Towards a theory of innovation and interactive learning. Pinter Publishers.
Mincer, J. (1974). Schooling, experience, and earnings. Columbia University Press.
Nelson, R. R., & Phelps, E. S. (1966). Investment in humans, technological diffusion, and economic growth. The American Economic Review, 56(1/2), 69–75.
Nyussupova, G., Aidarkhanova, G., Kenespayeva, L., & Kelinbayeva, R. (2023). Gender features of the Kazakhstan labour market in the context of sustainable development. Hungarian Geographical Bulletin, 72(1), 59–74. https://doi.org/10.15201/hungeobull.72.1.4
OECD. (2017). The pursuit of gender equality: An uphill battle. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264281318-en
Olzhebayeva, G., Abdykadyr, T., & Rakhimberdinova, M. (2025). The role of universities in driving innovation through human capital in Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Economic and Business Studies, 69(2), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.47703/ejebs.v69i2.506
Ranking.kz. (2025, May 14). Интерес казахстанок к IT-профессиям растёт. При этом мужчинам в этой сфере платят намного больше [Kazakh women’s interest in IT professions is growing, while men in this field are paid much more]. https://ranking.kz/reviews/industries/interes-kazahstanok-k-it-professiyam-rastyot-pri-etom-muzhchinam-v-etoy-sfere-platyat-namnogo-bolshe.html
Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), S71–S102. https://doi.org/10.1086/261725
Sarsembayeva, R. B. (2005). Gender aspects of systemic socio-economic reforms in Kazakhstan: Sociological analysis [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University.
Schultz, T. W. (1961). Investment in human capital. The American Economic Review, 51(1), 1–17.
United Nations. (2024). Kazakhstan common country analysis 2024. https://kazakhstan.un.org/sites/default/files/2025-02/CCA%20Kazakhstan%202024%20EN.pdf
World Bank. (2023). Human capital country brief: Kazakhstan. https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/64e578cbeaa522631f08f0cafba8960e-0140062023/related/HCI-AM23-KAZ.pdf
World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/
World Intellectual Property Organization. (2025). Kazakhstan ranking in the Global Innovation Index 2025. https://www.wipo.int/edocs/gii-ranking/2025/kz.pdf
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Eurasian Journal of Gender Studies
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
