Budget Transparency on the Local Level in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Abstract

Budget transparency allows government to be effective, accountable and corruption resistant institution by disclosing key budget documents. Survey of the web-site allowed me to conclude that not all 16 local administrations in Kazakhstan is following budget transparency initiatives defined by the OECD, IMF and IBP practices. Furthermore, oil-producing oblasts are less transparent compared to the non-oil producing oblasts that confirm the idea of resource curse problem in Kazakhstan. Using Panel Analysis method, I found a positive correlation between budget transparency with unemployment and criminalization level on the local level of Kazakhstan. However, small sample size of oblasts and periods does not allow me conclude that resource curse problem can be explained using provincial level of Kazakhstan. Having more oblasts and more periods or using another country with similar characteristic (the Russian Federation or Saudi Arabia) may reinforce or weaken this approach.