Comparative analysis of state support models for small and medium-sized enterprises: transformation of Kazakhstan's experience in the context of global practice

Abstract

Purpose: This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the effectiveness of government support systems for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan in the period 2015-2025 and the search for strategies for the transition from extensive quantitative growth to high-quality technological acceleration.

Methods: The study employs methods of systematic and descriptive analysis of statistical data from 17 regions and three megacities of Kazakhstan for the period 2015-2025. The main method used was international comparative analysis (benchmarking) with best practices from OECD countries.

Results: analysis of the dynamics for 2015–2025 shows that despite the increase in the share of SMEs in the gross domestic product to 38,2%, structural stagnation persists: 41,8% of regions remain primarily focused on trade. Regional imbalances are also identified, resulting from the location of 65% of innovative enterprises in megacities, indicating the low effectiveness of the territorial distribution of subsidies.

The scientific novelty: It lies in the development of a "predictive acceleration" model, which proposes replacing direct subsidies with risk-sharing instruments linked to key labor productivity indicators.

Practical significance: The study provides a justification for the implementation of transitional tax regimes and a digital assessment system based on big data, aimed at increasing the transparency and effectiveness of development institutions.