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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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,...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

Russia's war against Ukraine and the geopolitical shifts on the Eurasian continent have brought Central Asia back into the focus of Germany and the EU. Germany's strategic regional partnership with Central Asia, which was announced last autumn, offers promising potential for cooperation....

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...

Income convergence refers to the idea that poor countries grow more quickly than rich ones and catch up in terms of per capita income; as a result, the per capita income of integrated nations eventually converges. Beta convergence suggests that less developed nations grow more quickly than more...

This study empirically examines the effect of the drought of 2021 on migration in the Kyrgyz Republic. A panel dataset was created using nationally representative household survey data for the period 2019-2022 with approximately 5,000 households in each year and integrated with the satellite...

Although not on track to meet climate targets, renewables for electricity production are rising globally, having reached nearly 30 percent of total electricity generation in 2022. Renewable energy - based electricity - including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass - are mature,...

This Policy Brief explores the status quo of migration in and out of Central Asia two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, focusing on anticipated and unexpected developments that continue to shape migration realities in this part of the Prague Process region.

The network of Higher Education Reform Experts (HERE) has been in existence since 2007, when it was part of the TEMPUS programme. Its role is to help build the capacity of higher education institutions in third countries not associated to the Erasmus+ programme in four neighbourhood regions: the...

In 2023, migrants accounted for almost half of new HIV diagnoses in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) remaining a key population affected by HIV across the European region. Migrants living with HIV face numerous intersecting stigmas related to their HIV and migration status,...

This evidence brief summarises the progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 3.3 to 'end the epidemic of AIDS' in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). It is largely based on data collected by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) through an...

The impacts of climate change are significantly affecting the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, with high carbon emissions due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels and energy-intensive economies. To transition to clean energy, substantial private and public investment and diverse policies...

If the AIDS epidemic is to be brought to end by 2030, it is crucial to combat HIV-related stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings, as per United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal 3 Target 3.3 [1] and the Paris Declaration [2]. The UNAIDS target related to stigma and...

In 2021, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) updated the HIV targets for 2025 as part of the global strategy to end AIDS by 2030. The updated targets are for 95% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV) to be diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed to be on antiretroviral treatment...