An applied research center that helps people navigate a changing economy. We analyze what is happening, understand how technology is changing it, and help prepare for the future.
We do not simply offer services. We solve real problems faced by the state, business, and civil society in conditions of uncertainty.
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This is the first article in the “Single-Industry Towns” series. It explains how such towns emerged, when they run into difficulty, and how they adapt.
This is the second article in the “Single-Industry Towns” series. It examines Kazakhstan’s single-industry towns, why they emerged, and what happens when the anchor enterprise weakens or disappears. The article looks at several illustrative cases and four approaches in Kazakhstan’s public policy.
This is the third article in the “Single-Industry Towns” series. It looks closely at Arkalyk. The city’s history is more complex than is often assumed, and the current response could become an instructive case for other regions.
Key takeaways from the interview with Ruslan Karatabanov and Nurlan Kiyasov. Watch the full version on Rakhim Oshakbaev’s channel.
Kazakhstan uses a modern survey instrument to assess trust and safety. Its results are substantive, but they require greater methodological transparency.
Material No. 1 in the series “School in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” TALAP Center for Applied Research, in collaboration with Global Education Futures.
This is the fourth paper in the Kazakhstan Economic Radar, Q2 2026 series. It presents the International Radar, based on an analysis of external reports on Kazakhstan's economy.
This is the fifth paper in the Kazakhstan Economic Radar, Q2 2026 series. It presents the Integrated Radar, which brings together the three underlying radars, compares their similarities and differences, and identifies cross-cutting responses.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz became the largest oil supply disruption in history. But the global market did not go into an uncontrolled price spiral. The shock was sharp, but shorter than the most severe forecasts had anticipated. This is a story not only about oil, but also about which forecasting methods work better under conditions of war, physical supply shortage, and high uncertainty.
