Gender Inequalities in Political and Economic Decision-Making

Abstract

Although many international initiatives have focused on promoting gender equality, women remain underrepresented in political and economic decision-making roles in most countries. This research examines the relationship between women’s participation in formal institutions and Kazakhstan’s economic performance from 2014 to 2023. The empirical base of the study is formed from official data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the National Bank of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as international databases. Using statistical tools like MANCOVA, one-way ANOVA, and radar chart visualization, the study observes a clear link between the share of women on the National Bank’s board and economic outcomes, particularly GDP and GDP per capita. The results show statistically significant links between female representation and economic performance. Thus, women's participation in the mazhilis has the strongest relationship with GDP and GDP per capita (Pillai's Trace = 0.792; p = 0.009), explaining up to 79% of the variation in economic indicators. The proportion of women in ministerial positions also significantly correlates with GDP (p = 0.021; F = 8.76). The radial diagrams clearly demonstrate that the periods of expansion of women's representation (2016-2020, peak - 2019) coincide with the phases of accelerated economic growth. The results obtained confirm that the institutional participation of women is not only an issue of equality, but also a significant factor in the sustainable economic development of Kazakhstan. The study therefore calls for steady policy measures to reduce structural inequalities and support more inclusive governance.