Urbanization: demographic and social problems in the northern regions of Kazakhstan

Abstract

To promote the harmonious development of urban and rural areas, Kazakhstan is improving the approach to the development of "growth points" of regions, taking into account the principle of "managed urbanization" and "people to infrastructure". This approach makes it possible to overcome the large differences between rural and urban development that are taking place in the context of the urbanization trend, to develop agglomerations, large and medium-sized cities in the regions, to implement production projects in promising and border areas. The purpose of the study is to study demographic and social problems in the northern regions of Kazakhstan (Kostanay and North Kazakh regions (North Kazakhstan region) with the identification of indicators affecting population decline. As a result of the study, it was found that the decline in the population in the Northern Kazakh and Kostanay regions is directly related to the decline in birth rates. The results of an empirical study showed a decrease in birth rates with the departure of economically active groups in the regions to large cities, a relatively low level of quality of social services compared to the city level. As a result, due to the decline in the population in rural areas, social facilities (kindergartens, schools, health care institutions, etc.) are losing their operational importance. Therefore, the article scientifically substantiated the need to create and invest production facilities with stable employment of economically active groups to regulate demographic and migration problems in the northern regions of Kazakhstan. Increasing the number of economically active groups in regions and their rural territories can be an integrated approach to regulating demogrational, infrastructural, and economic problems in the regions.