Political tensions over water management in the Central Asia region have intensified since the Soviet era, as ecological issues like the drying Aral Sea and seasonal hydropower disruptions impact downstream countries. The paper discusses the region’s water governance challenges, including...

Extension services start to emerge in recent years but their impact on the production efficiency of women farmers is not empirically assessed in Central Asia. This paper investigates the role of extension services in improving female farmers’ technical efficiency scores while analyzing the...

In contrast to most Central, Eastern and Southeastern European (CESEE) economies, Central Asia (CA) - comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - has witnessed quite robust demographic as well as economic growth in the period from 2019 to 2024. This period was...

Environmental issues adversely impact air quality, biodiversity, and socio-economic conditions in Central Asia. This paper utilizes the Life in Transition dataset to analyse climate change awareness and willingness to mitigate among populations from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan,...

Kazakhstan represents one of the largest economies in the Central Asian region. Over recent years, Kazakhstan has experienced a rise in temperature and pollution levels due to its overreliance on fossil fuels in energy industries. The rise in temperature and pollution levels has contributed to...

We examined whether perceived land rights—use, management, transfer, and tenure security—are associated with investment in movable farm assets. Using micro-level data from crop-specialized farmers in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, we distinguish investment incentives linked to tenure security,...

This study investigates factors influencing household cooling choices in Central Asia, focusing on air-conditioning and fans/sunscreen films. Using data from the 2023 "Household Access to Energy in the Fergana Valley" survey in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the analysis...

Low-carbon energy transition, which includes the replacement of fossil fuels with low-carbon energy infrastructure, the removal of subsidies, and other measures, requires households to be able to pay for low-carbon energy services. Economic shocks such as the coronavirus disease pandemic and...

Low-carbon energy transition, which includes the replacement of fossil fuels with low-carbon energy infrastructure, the removal of subsidies, and other measures, requires households to be able to pay for low-carbon energy services. Economic shocks such as the coronavirus disease pandemic and...

This study is a novel attempt to analyze the patterns and trends of urbanization in medium to large cities in Central Asia. It encompasses a broad range of parameters, and employs an evidence-based approach to outlining strategic directions and actions for fostering green and resilient urban...

Extreme heat is becoming one of the most lethal and underestimated threats to cities in Europe and Central Asia, exacerbating health risks, undermining productivity, and pushing infrastructure to its limits. This report presents new analysis showing that without urgent adaptation, heat-related...

This paper explores how the health-related component of human capital affects economic performance in all five Central Asian countries. In particular, it analyzes the impact of life expectancy on overall GDP and output per worker, which characterizes labor productivity. The time frame includes...

This edition of the Macro Poverty Outlooks periodical contains country-by-country forecasts and overviews for GDP, fiscal, debt and poverty indicators for the developing countries of Europe and Central Asia. Macroeconomic indicators such as population, gross domestic product and gross domestic...

This report aims to enhance the understanding of the priorities, needs, and solutions for improving air quality (AQ) in Central Asia (CA) through local action and regional collaboration. It focuses on key components of holistic air quality management (AQM): evidence-based analytics to identify...

The failure of newly independent Central Asian countries to diversify exports after the Soviet Union's collapse is attributed to high trade costs, either because these countries are landlocked or due to border delays and regulatory obstacles. This paper estimates the impact of the high costs of...

This study examines the effects of at-the-border and behind-the-border measures on the intraregional perishable goods trade in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation region by combining trade facilitation indicators at the bilateral product level with an extensive dataset of nontariff...

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, mobility restrictions had a significant impact on trade times and costs at the borders, particularly in landlocked developing countries. This paper examines the effect of COVID-19 mobility measures on the time required for cargo to clear...

Growth is projected to rise in the Middle East and North Africa in 2025 and 2026, but at a slower pace than anticipated in the October 2024 REO. Across the region, rising trade tensions and policy uncertainty are adding to the impact of conflicts and extended oil production cuts to weaken growth...

Climate education and youth entrepreneurship are pathways for young people to become agents of change in their communities in response to the environmental challenges of today, particularly climate change. This report provides recommendations on developing climate education and youth...

In their pursuit of energy transitions, Central Asian emerging economies face limitations in technology and financing, which they address through international cooperation. Research about the engagement of the European Union (EU) and Japan, both relatively new non-regional actors in the Central...

This research aims to identify the dynamics of eco-innovations in Kazakhstan's small and medium-sized business sectors, as well as to assess the practical signifcance of these innovations for both ecology and society as a whole. To achieve this objective, a combination of methods was employed,...

This paper identifies existing labour market challenges associated with ageing in Europe and Central Asia. It presents a general overview and provides ideas to stimulate social dialogue. In 2024, there were 28 persons aged 65 years and above per 100 persons aged 15 to 64 years and this ratio is...

This study investigates factors influencing household cooling choices in Central Asia, focusing on air-conditioning and fans/sunscreen films. Using data from the 2023 "Household Access to Energy in the Fergana Valley" survey in the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, the analysis...

Business dynamism and economic growth in Europe and Central Asia have weakened since the late 2000s, with productivity growth driven largely by resource reallocation between firms and sectors rather than innovation. To move up the value chain, countries need to facilitate technology adoption,...

This policy brief examines the strategic importance of the South Caucasus and its pivotal role in the European Union's evolving engagement with Central Asia. The regional landscape, however, remains highly volatile. Russia's aggression in Ukraine has had direct and indirect repercussions for the...

Economic growth and development are key to societal well-being, yet emerging economies in Central Asia and the Caucasus face challenges such as labor market inefficiencies, uneven capital distribution, and weak institutions. This study examines the impact of education, institutional quality,...

Central Asian economies, particularly Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, are pursuing increasingly ambitious goals for renewable energy. Apart from China - an established player in the market - it has increasingly been Gulf countries that have been implementing respective projects, particularly Saudi...

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is very effective at preventing HIV infection when taken as prescribed. It is an important element of the 'combination prevention' necessary to reach the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 [3]. Since 2016, PrEP has...

In contrast to most Central, Eastern and Southeastern European (CESEE) economies, Central Asia (CA) - comprising Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - has witnessed quite robust demographic as well as economic growth in the period from 2019 to 2024. This period was...

In parallel with global developments, inflation in the Central Asia and Caucasus (CCA) has exhibited large swings in recent years. This paper investigates inflation dynamics in the CCA and its main drivers and derives conclusions that can inform policymaking. The analysis is based on three...

Literature links food insecurity to adverse welfare outcomes, including the educational performance of children. This paper investigates whether food insecurity, exacerbated by recent food inflation, has hindered schoolchildren's recovery from learning loss following coronavirus disease-related...

As countries rapidly urbanize, settlements are expanding into hazardous flood zones. This analysis considers spatial urbanization patterns and the evolution of flood exposure between 1985 and 2020 in 55 countries in the Europe and Central Asia region. The evidence in this report suggests that...

Women face substantial and specific challenges from the use of solid fuels. The persistence and prevalence of traditional gender roles in many societies mean that women and girls are often responsible for gathering and managing solid fuel supplies. Significant time and effort is required for...

This research aims to assess Central Asian households' willingness to insulate their homes and the factors influencing this decision by utilizing Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Institute data from the "Household Access to Energy in The Fergana Valley" survey, which was...

Food insecurity has become of increasing concern following the economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent sharp rise in inflation, including food price inflation. To better understand the conditions of food insecurity and the impacts of inflation and other drivers of food...

Despite the well-documented benefits of improved sanitation and washing facilities, a considerable number of people, even in middle-income countries, still lack access to modern sanitation and home-based bathing facilities. This paper leverages household budget survey data from two Central Asian...

A growing literature examines the roles of financial literacy in an individual's income, saving behavior, and the use of financial products including financial technology (fintech). However, no study has examined the effects of the financial literacy of family business owners on fintech use and...

School closures have a negative impact on children's educational outcomes. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Asia and the Caucasus introduced online classes and TV programs with a view to preventing learning loss. Based on a household survey in nine countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,...

This paper looks at the development of Chinese exports to Central Asian countries after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The analysis, which relies on export data from China to Asian countries at a general product level, shows that China's exports to Central Asia have significantly...

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has accelerated global dynamics that profoundly impact the post-Soviet South. Relations with Russia are still strong, but the former subalterns are raising their voices. The empowerment is most visible in their foreign relations, but also tends to strengthen...