With the success of seminal book Why Nations Fail by Acemoglu and Robinson, the importance of solid institutions, especially in developing countries, has been stressed numerously over the last decade. The lecture will give a brief overview of the challenges faced by Kazakh authorities since the very first days of the country’s independence until today and provide a summary of key institutional reforms initiated by the President and the government. The audience will have a chance to hear the story firsthand from one of the key Kazakh policy makers, involved in shaping of many successful policies.
Even though in many cases Kazakh leaders were inspired by the example of Singapore, as well as Chile, Malaysia and Norway, local circumstances have allowed Kazakhstan pursue its unique way. The lecture will also highlight the importance of PDIA (Problem-Driven Iterative Approach), while drawing examples from the policy reforms implemented by other countries.