The aim of the article is to study the issues of ensuring economic security, which play an important role in the development of any state, especially in connection with the ongoing changes that deepen the global economic crisis. The author examines the development of the world economy in the context of a spreading pandemic. Ensuring the country's economic security, taking into account the adaptation of world experience, made it possible to see more deeply the features and identify key issues requiring improvement for socio-economic development. The main trends in the decrease in the level of economic security in the current conditions of the spread of the pandemic, based on the study of analytical data, made it possible to determine the economic situation of individual foreign countries and conduct a comparative analysis of preventive actions in the current situation in the world community. The article provides examples of foreign countries, their approaches and methods, and also considers the anti-crisis measures they use, which are aimed at comprehensively solving the problems of the global crisis. This made it possible to reduce social tension within states and improve the social situation associated with the emerging risks and threats to maintain the stability of the economic situation and ensure economic security.

The purpose of the article is to consider the practical aspects of the structural transformation of economy. Over the past few decades, absolutely all national economies have undergone structural changes, regardless of their size, economic system and all other political or economic differences. The transformation of structures was associated with many factors, including institutional changes, technological changes, the widespread introduction of the results of scientific and technological progress, globalization and integration processes. At the same time, it should be noted that not all structural changes had a positive effect for all countries, even though the changes had almost the same trend of growth in the share of the service sector, a decrease in the share of agriculture and manufacturing. This article is an attempt to systematize the main trends and consequences of structural transformations in the world. The authors put forward the hypothesis that the world economy tends to “servicization” and deindustrialization, which has dialectical significance for the world economy. To assess the structural changes, we analyzed the data of the World Bank to study the dynamics of changes in the sectoral structure of the countries of the world in the period from 1990 to 2019. A very great influence on these processes was exerted by globalization, which through its mechanisms made possible a rapid change in industry proportions not only in the developed world, but also in developing countries, while forming a global trend of “servicization” of the economy. The authors tried to conduct a comparative analysis of the impact of each economic sector on GDP using a regression model based on panel data from more than 180 countries of the world presented by the World Bank.

The purpose of the article is to study a unique and planned sphere of life of social and economic society in the regional labor market. As it also covers the market of workforce directly connected to production, the concepts unemployment and workplace safety are important. The loss of work means low quality of life and the instability of the economy for many people. Employment determines the content of important aspects of social development to meet the needs of people in the labor market. The article emphasizes that the main policy of the state in regulating the labor market is the implementation of an employment policy for the entire population that preserves the natural level of employment, does not allow the emergence of cyclical employment, the formation of a “flexible market” that quickly adapts to internal and external changes, allowing to maintain stability and management. This compared to the traditional market creates conditions for flexible employee management in conditions of incomplete working day, temporary employment, replacement. On this flexible market, every citizen, looking for work, is obliged to find a workplace that meets its requests. In the labor market, public policy goes in two directions. Active training and retraining in order to create new jobs, ensuring employment and deliverance from unemployment. This can include events implemented in the framework of programs in our country. Passive is support for unoccupied citizens by providing social benefits. The main methods applied by the state in providing regional employment include stimulating investment in the economy, depending on the specifics of each region, which is the main condition for creating new jobs.

The aim of the study is to study theoretical and methodological approaches to the influence of the state program of housing construction on determining the affordability of housing for the population. Construction objects, as well as housing construction objects, lose their profitability and are not sold after delivery. The resulting decline in demand further aggravates the situation. The study analyzes the provision of housing in the Republic of Kazakhstan, and also makes calculations to determine the affordability of housing in the country. The article discusses the main indicators of the development of the housing construction industry: domestic production and consumption and market size in the Republic of Kazakhstan.The contribution to the development of the housing construction industry comes mainly from investments in the construction industry. The State Program also provides for the construction of rental housing, in accordance with standard projects for the construction of 5 and 9-storey large-panel frame houses using industrial housing technology. One of the most acute social problems in the Republic of Kazakhstan is the availability and provision of housing. This indicator depends on such factors as: the high income stratification of the population, the rate of construction of housing in the country at the regional level. The issues of housing provision in the regions of Kazakhstan were addressed through the implementation of the Regional Development Program 2020 and the state program of infrastructural development “Nurly zher”.

This article discusses the development of production processes in the context of integration, which makes it possible to increase the competitiveness of the industry, concentrate production, money and commodity capital, increase the speed of production, introduce innovations, produce products with high added value and enter the world markets. The features of the growth of the machine-building industry, which determine the energy and material consumption of the economy, labor productivity, the level of generation of innovations, the level of environmental safety of industrial production and the economic security of the country, are analyzed. Revealed and substantiated the need to focus on the “complication” of the national economy and diversification of those industries that give the maximum multiplier effect and high-quality economic growth. On the basis of the conducted research, the author proposes to activate the innovative development of mechanical engineering as a driver of industrialization in Kazakhstan. The need for the growth of domestic mechanical engineering, which provides the country's economy with means of production, promotes the development of all manufacturing industries, fuel and energy, transport and logistics, extractive sectors of the economy and agriculture is revealed and substantiated. On the basis of the study, the author proposes to highlight the multiplier effect, reflecting the degree of influence of a particular industry or sector on the growth of the economy as a whole by creating additional demand in other industries and sectors of the economy, and, consequently, jobs. The success of the development of mechanical engineering is determined in the proposed directions for increasing state support and stimulating the industry.

The article considers the main provisions of modern urban concepts. The purpose of this article is to systematize and analyze them, as well as to identify universal models and strategies for the development and modernization of cities for modern global society. The authors explore the very concept of urbanization and the basic principles, concepts of modern urbanism to conduct a comprehensive and in-depth analysis of modern urban concepts and their systematization. The main aspects of the manifestation of the globality of urbanization at the present stage, philosophical and ideological, problematic and spatial (geographical), are studied. The main provisions of urban planning developed within the framework of the concept of New Urbanism are also given. After analyzing the main provisions considered, it is concluded that this concept is aimed at creating comfortable environmentally, ergonomically and socially balanced conditions for human habitation and for nature conservation. When studying the basic concepts of urbanization, a set of the following methods of economic research was used: monographic, program-target, logical. In the work on the study, such theoretical research methods as comparisons and generalizations, scientific abstraction and synthesis were also used.

The article discusses the issues of the development of the city brand. The main purpose of the study was to identify the factors and components that contribute to the development of the city brand. The city brand model of Thomas Gad has been taken as a theoretical basis of the study. This model describes four dimensions of a city brand: mental, spiritual, social and functional. The author of the article has made an attempt to describe and add one more dimension to above-mentioned model-the dimension of “city style” with its visual and aesthetic aspect. The literature review has been conducted in order to clarify the concepts of “brand” and “city brand”. The questionnaire has been carried out among residents of two cities of Kazakhstan to identify the influence of the city style on the recognition of the city. The above is the theoretical and practical contribution of this study to the development and formation of the city’s brand. The proposal of the author of the study to develop design codes for cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan is of applied importance.

 First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in his Address «Strategy Kazakhstan–2050: a new policy of the established state» has paid great attention to the problems of social and development of the country. Under the current economic situation in Kazakhstan solving macroeconomic  problems is exacerbated by disparate socioeconomic development of  regions. Since the sustainable development of the regions is one of the  priorities of state policy. The purpose of this article is to analyze the level of socio-economic development of the regions of Kazakhstan, including the Almaty region. Also, effective reform of the socio-economic condition of the region has a huge impact on the social-economic development of both the state and its individual regions. Therefore, it is required to stop at the features of the socio-economic condition of the region. The main problems  affecting the socio-economic development of regions are high-quality and competitive management and control of regions in the conditions of market economy, the development of new requirements for all branches of production management and financing of social services, etc. Now our republic not only has a market economy, but also real symbols of socio-economic development are being formed, which have large internal resources for the benefit of all Kazakhstanis. Among the regions of our country Almaty region is a major industrial center, as well as many  professional agricultural production structure. In this regard, the article discusses conceptual proposals for a regulation of social and economic development of Almaty region. 

The purpose of this article is to investigate the essence and destructive consequences of political and economic campaigns carried out in the third quarter of the XX century in China. The author makes an attempt to reconstruct the picture of the political, economic and social development of China in the period under study, to substantiate the specifics of the implementation of reforms in Xinjiang, to trace the interrelationships of economic, political and interethnic relations that are developing both in the region itself and between the central government and national autonomy. This study is aimed at identifying the relationship between socio-economic transformations in China and mass migration of the population, primarily of national minorities, to Kazakhstan. Particular attention was paid to the study of the radical transformations carried out in Xinjiang province since 1955 in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), since here the general negative consequences were aggravated by the ethno-political factor, increasing the push-out effect of the migration of the indigenous population of the ethnic minorities region. Based on the studied scientific literature, as well as the application of the method of historical detailing, several stages of China’s modernization were identified, which were uneven and extremely painful. The features of each stage were studied in details, the accumulated facts were ordered, cause-and-effect relationships were established between the political and economic development of China and the mass migration from China to Kazakhstan in the 1950–1970s. The use of a multifactorial integrated approach made it possible to understand the nature of many phenomena in the economic life of the XUAR and their dependence on political events, solving issues of nation-building, interethnic relations.

 The paper is devoted to foreign market entry strategies, particularly, studying the case of the entry of the US company Wall-Mart–the world leader in whole sale and retail trade– into the Thailand market. In terms of globalization, many firms are trying to expand their business by entering foreign markets which determines the relevance of the study. That brings many social and economic benefits. However, the process is related with big risks which requires developing proper strategies for business success. In the research it is analyzed the external business environment, and causes why Wall-Mart has decided to enter the Thailand market, taking into account macroeconomic characteristics, growing domestic consumer demand, purchasing trend, as well as positive forecasts of sales growth in the overall retail sector. Moreover, the entry modes of Wal-Mart entering the Thai  market are considered. It is performed the risk assessment and risk management strategies developed, accordingly. The importance for international businesses to conduct an in-depth external business environmental and risk analysis is proved before entering into other markets, as it provides insightful information about the features of the host country,  its culture, knowledge of the local market and consumer needs, competitive business strategies and etc. 

 The article presents a methodology for assessing the investment activity of the regions. The economic policy of the region at the macroeconomic level is implemented by the state through its governing bodies, legislative and executive bodies. At this high level, decisions on the development of the  national economy and each region are made taking into account national interests. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the national economy not only as a whole, but also as a system that differs and works together in different aspects. In this system, regardless of the specific territory, they determine the production and economic potential of the whole country, its place in the world economic space, national economic security and the stability of the national economy. It is a militaryindustrial complex, competitive, large-scale scientific and high-tech industries, important cultural and social facilities. Regulation of the development of these facilities is the main direction of the state regional economic policy at the highest level. The national approach to the regulation of the regional economy is in the interests of ensuring social justice in the country as a whole. This, in turn, requires the development of special programs to improve the living standards of the population in socially disadvantaged areas for various reasons or to justify the decisions of major governments. Such programs have been developed in rural areas of Kazakhstan in the past, but  some are not satisfied with their implementation. 

 The purpose of the article is to determine the features of the inflationary process in Kazakhstan in the conditions of economic downturn, to justify the socio-economic consequences of the manifestation of inflation in the country. In present conditions for science and practice, it is important to redefine the content of the concept of "inflation", to further identify the causes of its occurrence. Imbalances in economic and social development are the main cause of inflation as they increase prices and reduce the purchasing power of the population. In this regard, the following specific reasons for inflationary growth are highlighted such as imbalance of government  revenues and expenditures; an increase in costs associated with strengthening the defence capability; changes in the structure of the market; an increase in the openness of the economy. Economic and social disparities  deepen inequality between regions. This has had a very negative impact on the inflation rate in Kazakhstan over the past 27 years. The socio-economic consequences of inflationary processes are very significant. They touched the  state funds; management and decision making in the economy; increasing labor productivity, technological modernization; the emergence of  weak regions; destabilization of external environmental relations. To solve the problems associated with inflation, an algorithm for studying this issue is proposed.The recommendations pay special attention to the need to study  the problem of monetary policy in the context of a downturn in the economy. Particular emphasis is placed on the correct construction of the anti-inflationary policy, taking into account the consequences of the pandemic. 

 The article raises the problem of the correct evaluation of state financial support amount for the agro-industrial complex (AIC), which is an essential condition for the effective functioning and dynamic development of the industry. The relevance of this evaluation increases whenever agribusiness  entities face risks that are characteristic of both agricultural production and caused by unfavorable natural conditions. In this regard, the primary purpose of the article is to conduct a comparative analysis of the amount of state support for the AIC of Kazakhstan, obtained using different evaluation methods. The article presents the results of the indicators analysis of international estimation methodologies for state support developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the field of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the World Trade Organization (WTO). The second, but no less significant purpose of the article is to justify the sufficiency of the amount of budget support for achieving the goals of the AIC sustainable development. To achieve this, an evaluation of the amount of budget funds allocated by the state to support agriculture was carried out. This amount is compared with the contribution of agriculture to the GDP of Kazakhstan. The structure of state financial support has been considered. The evaluation results have showed that there is a reserve for increasing the amount of state financial support for the agricultural sector. Thus, the methodology of this research is based on a comparative, statistical and systematic analysis of international estimation methodologies for state  financial support. 

This paper aims to investigate factors affecting the access of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
to external financing in Kazakhstan. The data set of this research is obtained from the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Surveys (BEEPS) conducted by the World Bank in Kazakhstan in 2019. The results of the analysis showed that such factors as revenue, the availability of collateral, previously received loans, have a positive impact on the decision to grant a loan by financial institutions. However, the results of the analysis did not show a statistically significant effect of the size and age of the enterprise on access to credit, which was proved by a number of studies in other countries. The results of the analysis also showed that access to external financing is significantly limited for enterprises implementing innovative products or services, which is explained by the riskiness of these enterprises from the point of view of creditors. It is interesting to note that the analysis showed a statistically significant positive relationship between access to credit and a female manager, which proves that there is no discrimination on gender grounds when making a decision to issue a loan in Kazakhstan. The results obtained can be used to develop more effective conditions for lending to SMEs, as well as to improve scoring models for SMEs, where the main criteria may be the history and potential of the company, rather than the current financial situation and the availability of collateral.

The aim of the article is to consider the issue of monitoring the innovative potential of enterprises. In modern conditions, the innovative activity provides competitive advantages to any enterprise, but the most significant successes are achieved by enterprises that are purposefully engaged in the development, implementation, maintenance, and use of innovations. Various changes affect the innovative activity of enterprises, and therefore it is necessary to constantly monitor and analyze the innovative potential of enterprises. As a result of the study, the authors found that monitoring is a multi-purpose information system with active goal-setting, therefore, during implementation, the specifics of its implementation should be taken into account, the tasks, the conceptual framework and the implementation mechanism should be formed. The procedures for monitoring the formation, development and rational use of innovative potential should be carried out in a certain sequence, with a set of indicators recorded at each stage, followed by an analysis of the causes of the inconsistencies, documentation and interpretation of the results. In addition, the monitoring procedures should use modern technologies for processing data sets that contribute to the development of justified management decisions. This approach to monitoring will ensure effective management decisions on the formation, development and rational use of the innovative potential of enterprises. As a result the innovative activity of enterprises should be carried out using modern methods and tools for monitoring the state of innovative potential for the development of justified management decisions.

 The purpose of the article is to consider the issue of digital transformation at the level of hindsight and the development of information and communication technologies in Kazakhstan. The analysis of the formation and development of information and communication technologies in the Republic of Kazakhstan, taking place over several decades has been carried out. The main stages of development of information and communication technologies are highlighted, and features of each stage are presented. At the same time, the analysis of regulatory legal acts aimed at ensuring digitalization. Along with this, the paper considers the concept of ‘‘digitalization’’ as a key term in the process of digital transformation of society. In particular, the main characteristics of the digitalization process are highlighted and the author’s definition of this concept is presented. The  article pays special attention to the system of public services as an integral part of public administration. In the process of digital transformation, electronic public services play a special role as the main indicator of quality of life and public satisfaction. The paper considers public services as a key element of the public administration system. E-government  services are highlighted as one of the main directions of public policy, which is traced through key policy documents. 

 The article examines the socio-economic transformations that began after the independence of Kazakhstan, which prompted the reform of the existing financial system. The formation of its own and effective budget system has become the main task on the path of the country’s development in a market economy. At the same time, the role of the budget system in market conditions, as one of the main tools, in limited conditions of influence on economic processes, has significantly increased. The main task was the formation of a three-level budget system: republican, local regional and local city (district). The Budget Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Law ‘‘On Local Public Administration and Self-Government in the Republic of Kazakhstan’’ adopted in this regard marked the beginning of the Kazakh model of forming their own budgets by local executive bodies. However, the legislation in the field of the budget system does not stop changing. Modernization in the system of public administration, industrial and technological competition, economic integration of states with common borders and interests, as well as many internal problems require changes from local authorities and compliance with current realities. The purpose of  the study is to develop proposals for improving the efficiency of local budget management. Improving the efficiency of local budget management determines the practical significance of the issue under consideration. 

 The article deals with the role of the agrarian sector in the socio-economic development of the country, in ensuring its export orientation and competitiveness in the conditions of the necessity to meet the requirements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Consequently, agriculture is an integral and important sector of the national economy and the main long-term priority of state economic policy, as the agro-industrial complex provides one of its most important components is the food security of the country. Meeting the country’s demand for food, as well as ensuring food production with agricultural raw materials are the most important tasks of state policy. Besides ensuring the country’s domestic market the agrarian sector should focus on its competitiveness and possibility to enter world markets in order to export its own production. One of the most important functions of public administration is the implementation of control and supervisory functions of the state for all types of activities of economic entities, whose purpose is to protect the rights and legitimate interests of state bodies, individuals and legal entities. In conditions of economic instability the search of optimal way of sustainable development of agrarian market of the Republic of Kazakhstan, able to provide food and economic security of the state, preserve and strengthen national independence
of the country is of particular importance. However, for this purpose it is necessary to evaluate the development of the agrarian market for years of independence and identify the most urgent problems and factors that hinder its sustainable development. In this regard, new mechanisms of state regulation of the industry are required, ensuring the transition of the country’s agro-industrial complex to a new innovative level of development. 

 The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of factors of the internal and external environment of the functioning of an agricultural enterprise on the effectiveness of its development by the most significant indicator – profit from sales. The fundamental importance of the business strategies chosen by the organization for profit is emphasized. The authors of the article believe that a strategic analysis of the development of the enterprise, based on the assessment of the impact of not only production indicators, but also taking into account the assessment of the impact of environmental factors: market size, market share of the enterprise, prices and sales structure, will significantly improve the quality of enterprise resource management. The  obtained results of such a factor analysis of the profit from sales make it possible to form a flexible strategy for the development of the enterprise, allowing it to be adjusted, if necessary, to revise the assumptions underlying the achievement of the planned profit level, to identify planning inaccuracies and to determine the consequences of changes in the influence of external and internal factors. The main research methods used were traditional basic methods used for preliminary information processing: systematization, comparison of economic indicators, study of indicators in dynamics, factor analysis of functional dependencies. At the same time, from a scientific point of view, the system of factor analysis at the strategic level is of the greatest interest. It has an interdisciplinary nature and is used in the practice of marketing, strategic management, and strategic planning. This circumstance, in turn, predetermined the purpose of the study. The scientific novelty of the research is identifying promising areas for improving and introducing the method of factor analysis into the system of strategic management of the development and positioning of agricultural formations, which allows effectively modernizing the economy of the agro-industrial complex (AIC).  

 The article discusses the features of management of logistics enterprises. The need for logic, practical approaches and a scientific approach coincided with the beginning of Kazakhstan’s transition to market relations. The possibilities and dynamics of a logical approach in domestic business are inseparable from the current socioeconomic and political situation in  Kazakhstan and the forecast of economic reforms. The introduction of  logistics management practices into business practice allows many firms to reduce all inventories in production, supply and sales, accelerate working capital, reduce production costs, reduce distribution costs and ensure complete satisfaction of consumers with goods and services. A set of economic effects when using logistics is obtained from the sum of the effects of improving these indicators. This is due to the emergence of integrative properties of logistic systems, that is, properties specific to the entire system, but not specific to its elements. Today, the development of logistics in Kazakhstan is based on the laws and principles of the market, the  development of logic and its integration with the enterprise management system reflects the level of development of the market economy. The industry must pursue a well-thought-out and long-term growth strategy based on national diversification and the search for new markets. They use our transport and communication services. This strategy will reduce the cost of transport, tourism, services, roads and capital construction, as well as domestic goods. 

The consequences of the declared pandemic, which led to the COVID–19 outbreak, a year later showed changes in almost all areas, especially in such areas as health, economy, education, business, etc. The purpose of the study is to consider the impact of the pandemic on the development of women’s entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan, what consequences women’s business faced, what measures were taken and how effective they were, including measures of state support for entrepreneurship in general. If in 2019 there was a difference in the financing of projects headed by women and men (the gender gap in funding in 2019 was almost 80%, and in 2020 – 96%), then the preliminary situation for 2020 shows that the crisis is equally felt by both men and women entrepreneurs. Given that while there are some operational data for 2020, it is difficult to immediately determine which of the economic measures were the most effective, which were less effective, and this is due to the fact that the pandemic period is not over, and their effectiveness depends on the epidemiological situation in the regions of the republic. In general, the measures are ineffective for reasons of insufficient awareness of small and medium-sized businesses, not falling into the category to which these or other measures apply, or the measures provided were not sufficiently significant in comparison with the losses. Government support measures taken by countries include a wide range, but the most effective financial measures.

 The purpose of the article is to identify factors affecting life expectancy of the population in the context of the COVID–19 pandemic. Today the main aim all of humanity and each country individually is to improve and prolong human health. It should be noted that health, first of all, is the basis of  normal human life. This is a multidimensional process that reflects the mental, physical and socio-economic well-being of people and the country as a whole, realizing themselves in society, covering the social, demographic and medical spheres. In addition, human health is the most important problem of society, labor potential and human capital. In connection with such issues, this article conducts a correlation analysis of factors affecting life expectancy in the Republic of Kazakhstan during COVID–19. This analysis shows that there is a significant and strong correlation between life expectancy, on the one hand, the level of digital literacy of the population and health care costs, on the other hand. Such factors as the number of doctors of all specialties and the number of medical staff positively affected the life expectancy of the population. Factors such as the number of hospital beds and the number of hospital organizations showed a negative relationship. Therefore, improving people’s health, increasing their life expectancy in modern conditions require significant improvement of the healthcare system, the introduction of digital technologies, medical information systems, as well as improving the digital literacy of the population. 

 The research aims to study the circular economy as an alternative to the current linear economy model in which materials and products are used quickly and then thrown away, causing adverse social and environmental impacts. A circular economy is a production and consumption model that aims to use materials for longer in the economy and reduce waste generation, which reduces damage to society and the environment. The article is devoted to environmental problems and ways to solve them by introducing a circular economy. The main characteristics of sustainable development, green economy, and circular economy are analyzed, their tasks, similarities, and differences are considered in detail. The article provides specific examples of the implementation of the circular economy by international companies from various industries. Modern companies  implement the principles of a circular economy using innovative strategies and tools, which are also discussed in the article. The transition to a circular economy model will reduce raw material costs, create new markets and products, improve customer relationships, increase customer loyalty, create a competitive business model, and improve brand reputation. In preparing the article, the methods of analysis and synthesis were used, theoretical and practical material was generalized, and the main provisions of economic and comparative analysis were used. 

The article examines the mechanisms of attracting investment for the effective development of the tourism industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the issues of consolidation of investments in the industry, determines the prospects for development by analyzing the current situation. The efficiency indicators of the investment process in the tourism industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan were studied, and the consequences of the COVID–19 pandemic were considered. Taking into account the latest trends in the economy and society, the conditions necessary for the recovery of the industry were evaluated. The coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 has had a major impact on the state and further development of all sectors of the world economy, including the tourism industry. Such a serious crisis in the tourism industry has not been observed since the second world war. However, not every crisis can only lead to negative consequences. The analysis showed the underdevelopment of the tourist infrastructure, the unwillingness of the tourism business to invest in its development, which requires more global investment volumes. The article examines modern realities and innovative challenges of this test, which is important for the entire tourism industry, such as accelerating the digitalization of tourist services, more active implementation of modern technologies, as well as updating the ecological aspect of tourism, expanding the geography of tourist routes throughout the country, etc. The conclusions and suggestions made based on the results of the study can be used in making investment decisions, used as educational and methodological materials in the study of investment processes in tourism.

The purpose of the article is an objective classification of the mountain passes of the Northern Tien Shan, collecting maximum information about them, which will ensure maximum safety for participants of mountain hiking trips. Systematic work on the classification of mountain passes of the USSR began immediately after the formation of tourism as a sport. By 1990, more than 4 thousand passes were classified. After the collapse of the USSR, tourists began to intensively make sports trips to the mountainous regions of far abroad. By 2001 (the year of the release of the new “ List...”), 5 thousand passes had already been classified. In 2020–2021. a new stage of updating the “List of high mountain passes....” has begun. Since Soviet times, the author has been responsible for the implementation of this work on the passes of the Northern Tien Shan and the Dzungarian Alatau. Therefore, it was in these mountainous
areas that intensive work was carried out by the Research Institute of Tourism of the University “Turan” (Almaty, Kazakhstan), which the author has been leading for more than 10 years. In addition to supplementing the list with new passes passed by tourists over 20 years (from 2001 to 2021), the task was set to include in the text as much information as possible about the exact coordinates of the pass points, the names of the pioneers and the dates of the first passage. In addition, a large amount of work was carried out to clarify exactly this section of information about the passes. This article is devoted to the consideration of these issues. During this period, the author, together with colleagues, supplemented the list with 64 segments of new information and six segments of clarifications. Special attention is paid to the choice of reliable sources of information about coordinates and pioneers.

The article discusses the main approaches to program and project management that are used in the UK, Russia and Malaysia. This review was conducted to identify best practices for Kazakhstan. The purpose of this article was a brief overview of the approaches to managing programs and projects in a number of developed countries of the world to determine the most optimal of them in the system of public administration in Kazakhstan. The review was conducted from the point of view of organizational interaction between structural units in the implementation of programs and projects, ensuring transparency of ongoing processes, and ways of involving stakeholders in the project. Also, a brief review of the project management standards in the countries under consideration was carried out. When writing the article, a general scientific research method was used, namely, the comparative-comparative method of the considered approaches to project management in a number of developed economies of the world. The legislative base in terms of the new concept of public administration development is analyzed. As a result of the research, the author identified the experience of Malaysia. The effective approach to the management of national reforms and projects, developed by the PEMANDU Institute, most fully reflects the principles laid down in the new vision of the state development of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The author has given a specific recommendation regarding amendments to legal acts.

 This study examines directions and tendencies of financial technology in all countries. The purpose of the research is to identify and characterize financial technologies, to show the features of their development in modern conditions and revise the foreign experience of regtech, insurtech and blockchain in practical use. Financial future is forming nowadays based not only on facial recognition and blockchain, but also takes into account facial recognition as well as cloud hosting and artificial intelligence. The global financial crisis of 2008 was a turning point that separated the previous phases of the development of financial technologies (Fintech) and regulatory technologies (RegTech) from the current paradigm.Today Fintech has reached onrush condition in its extensive use, characterized by a vigorous startups’ uptick and rapid appearance of the new members of financial  markets like e–commerce and IT firms that have split the market of financial services. Absolutely new period proposes a conceptual solution to financial problem for regulators and emphasizes the importance of Regtech development along with Fintech propagation. Specifically, regulators should create rather safe new regulatory authority that strengthens market confidence and innovation. It also should be fueled by regulatory sandboxes regular usage. The rapid development of such financial technology as blockchain has the potential to transform the financial market during the pandemic period. Currently, e–wallet payment method is widely used in many countries, which gradually replaced cash as a payment method. Fintech companies today only serve e–wallets. Thus, the use of blockchain is forcing  financial regulators to revise existing rules and assess their relevance on a global scale. The paper provides novel insights into development processes  of these complex phenomena. 

The article describes the methods of state stimulation of investments in the development of R&D and innovation. Based on the research of experts from the Big Four and reports of international organizations, an overview of current trends in the application of methods and measures of state support for investment in R & D and innovation in various countries, including those with a similar economic structure to Kazakhstan, is made. At the heart of modern innovative trends, the development of elements of Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation of industrial enterprises are of great importance for economic growth. In the context of a pandemic, there are crisis changes in the economy, in the behavior of business entities and people’s consciousness, which provide for a proactive role of the state in ensuring stability and forming a sustainable development trend in the post-pandemic period. Crises, as a rule, in addition to destructive consequences, create the need and opportunities for the introduction of innovations and the transition to a qualitatively new technological level of development. One of the main factors of successful investment decisions of enterprises at the present stage is the speed of application of new digital technologies, which are more effective in comparison with investments in the creation of new production capacities. In the conditions of uncertainty of return on investment, the author suggests using the fiscal measures adopted in international practice to stimulate investment in R & D, including for the development of Industry 4.0 in the basic industries of Kazakhstan. The considered structure of investment incentives can be used to increase the scale of investments by large private and national corporations in the MMC and NGS sector, which positively affects the financial flows of enterprises and state budget revenues in the medium term. The author’s conclusions may be of interest to state authorized bodies and company managers when financing digitalization projects of industrial enterprises.

This article highlights project management issues in the context of Kazakhstan’s digital transformation. The global crisis is forcing the government and industrial companies to be selective in defining priorities and support successful projects that have already shown results in practice. Based on research by experts from the Higher School of Economics, UNESCO and Accenture, following key areas have been identified for digital transformation: building a digital data management system, global relevance of research in digitalization, as well as the separation between industry and science in the transition to advanced innovative technologies. Kazakhstani industrial enterprises are experiencing a turning point in the implementation of advanced innovative technologies and R&D results. For industrial enterprises, the implementation of innovative projects is similar to R&D based on several factors: 1) the solution has to be assessed in terms of applicability; 2) it is usually implemented for the first time; 3) revision is necessary, taking into account the business needs, legislation, labor protection fire safety, ecology, etc. To scale up and leverage lessons learnt from successful projects, the Autonomous Cluster Fund has created a new tool – the Smart Industry Management Platform (SIMP). The SIMP platform is the result of 5 years of fruitful cooperation with industrial enterprises. Currently, one of the main priorities of the Autonomous Cluster Fund is to focus on developing the local Industry 4.0 ecosystem by helping industrial enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation. Using the platform approach in order to implement Industry 4.0 components in Kazakhstan will allow to develop new points of growth of the national economy, and ensure the integration of Kazakhstani companies into global value chains in the medium term.

The article analyzes and considers the main trends in the development of the digital services market for 2018–2021 and illustrative graphs are shown. The purpose of this article is to disclose the current problem of antimonopoly regulation and the development of competition in digital markets and to study the dynamics of the development of the global state of the digital sphere. When analyzing the current state of the digital services market and the development of antimonopoly regulation both in Kazakhstan and in foreign countries, analytical and economic and statistical methods were used, as well as methods of collecting information and abstraction for effective search, grouping, processing and generalization of data. Now the digital services market is developing dynamically and there is an active growth of Internet users around the world. There is also a constant increase in online shopping and the COVID–19 coronavirus pandemic further contributes to this growth. To protect the rights and interests of consumers, digital market players, “beginners”, and to ensure equal and fair competition conditions, it became necessary to revise the regulatory mechanisms used by the competition authorities in many countries. There is an active establishment of tighter regulation of digital platforms by focusing on their specific business models and regulating their access to data so that new entrants can compete on an equal footing with today’s large conglomerates. Important changes are being made to the rules on abuse of dominance in digital markets related to the behavior of “middlemen” That is, the task of the antimonopoly authorities is to create the necessary conditions for the development and stimulation of competition in this industry.

The main source of success for a customer-centric organization is the ability to identify its customers, identify their needs, and use that information to develop a customer-centric strategy. In this regard, there is a widespread change in attitudes toward the construction of management in organizations. Whereas previously the competitiveness of an organization could be measured by its financial performance, now the intellectual potential of an organization is at the forefront. As the role of the patient in the health care system has intensified, the importance of patient participation has received increasing attention and has become central to health care research. In this regard, in today’s environment, the foundation of success in the treatment and delivery of professional care in medicine is primarily the degree of patient satisfaction. Patient-centered care acts as a new paradigm for the development of the health care system, which is characterized by a shift in the center of gravity to the patient. In this regard, in the field of health care, the relationship between the patient and the doctor, as perceived by the patient, is one of the main elements of the methodology of scientific research. The purpose of this article is to review and analyze the results of the PDRQ–9, which assesses the patient-physician relationship. The PDRQ–9 provides researchers with a brief assessment of the therapeutic aspects of the patient-physician relationship in the primary care setting. It is a valuable tool for research and practice purposes that includes monitoring the patient-doctor relationship.

 The article considers the possibility of the development of public-private partnership in the field of vocational education and substantiates its necessity for high-quality training and further employment of specialists in accordance with the requirements of the modern labor market. The aim of the study is to identify new trends in the training of competitive graduates of technical and vocational education (VET) and higher education institutions (HEI) in the conditions of modern economy using public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms. The research methodology includes general scientific and theoretical research methods. Methods of tabular representation of data is used as statistical tool. Originality of the research is that it is relevant and necessary to develop new model of training young specialists, involving the implementation of educational, research, innovative and entrepreneurial, spiritual and moral activities that meet modern trends. The authors carried out the analysis of the level and quality of training of national personnel in terms of ensuring the future needs of the labor market of the Republic of Kazakhstan and identified the advantages of using public-private partnership mechanisms in improving the skills, employment, retraining of future specialists. The paper was prepared within the grant project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan AP08957434 “Development of a system of evaluation and certification of professional  competences of experts of PPP in Kazakhstan in accordance with international standards and advanced technologies”. 

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the results of the GUESSS project in the context of building career plans for students. The GUESSS project explores the entrepreneurial spirit of students globally and spans 54 countries around the world. The materials of the project are used to carry out scientific works and publications in the world’s leading journals. Entrepreneurship has become an important part of the learning process. The development of students’ entrepreneurial skills is of great importance at the present stage. OECD countries take into account and develop their youth entrepreneurship programs based on projects like GUESSS. Current labor market trends are destroying utopian models of “well-paid” jobs in a global competitive environment. Digitalization, the economy of smart cities, sustainable development and shared consumption, new trends in healthcare, retail, mass communications and tourism create new opportunities for the development of private entrepreneurship. In the study of the career preferences of students from different countries, one can consider the general tendencies characteristic of modern youth. The article assesses the career preferences of five different countries that are very different in terms of GDP, demographic and socio-cultural characteristics. The assessment of changes in the career preferences of students immediately after graduation and five years after gaining career experience is carried out.

 The purpose of this study is to reveal the main problems in the field of education and identify opportunities for digitalization. The period of economic development in the modern world is called the digital economy. Basically, digitalization affects all spheres of human life. This article examines the orientation of the modern sphere of education to the process of digitalization. The relevance of the research is determined by the special significance of knowledge in the life of modern society, focused on the foundations and values of the post-industrial period. The success of the education system is greatly influenced by the level of human potential, the readiness of people to solve natural and social problems. Innovative technological processes play an important role in improving public education every year, the introduction of which contributes to the modernization and development of education, as well as improves the quality of training of future specialists and brings education closer to science. At the same time, such technological processes are designed to review existing approaches to educational activities, as well as to analyze their impact on society and individual social groups. In this regard, the study of the problems of digitalization of education and its social results is a very important area of academic research. 

The purpose of this article is to consider the transformation of higher education under the conditions of informatization and digitalization. The relevance of the study is due to the active penetration of digital technologies into all spheres of life in modern society. Businesses and governments of countries around the world, including Kazakhstan, have realized the need to accelerate the processes of digitalization and digital transformation of the economy in order to achieve competitive positions in the emerging digital space of the new global economy. The digital transformation of processes and technologies in the economy, society and, of course, in education is a fact that has happened. The new reality inexorably conquers entire spheres of life, makes privacy a ghost of the past, completely destroys statuses, boundaries and distances between people, “compresses” time, makes almost any information available for study, work, recreation. Digitalization creates conditions for access to education, optimization of administration and management, and improvement of educational content. Moreover, it is increasingly becoming a driving factor in the country’s socio-economic development. The necessary competencies are often acquired outside the walls of educational institutions, since educational programs often do not keep up with the dynamics of technology. The teacher turns from a carrier of translated knowledge and skills into a navigator that helps to navigate the knowledge bases. All this requires an analytical approach to the study of this process, a scientific and methodological study of the implementation of such changes. This study examines the problems that are especially relevant in connection with the reform of the Kazakh system of higher education, the changes that are taking place in education.