## Output Decline in Transition: The Case of Kazakhstan

_IMF Working Papers, April 1, 1998_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Output Decline in Transition: The Case of Kazakhstan](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/output-decline-in-transition-the-case-of-kazakhstan-2559)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/output-decline-in-transition-the-case-of-kazakhstan-2559/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/output-decline-in-transition-the-case-of-kazakhstan-2559/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/output-decline-in-transition-the-case-of-kazakhstan-2559/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Published: April 1, 1998
- Series: IMF Working Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451974393.001

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### Summary
- Paper presents a detailed analysis of the output decline in Kazakhstan in the early years of the transition.
- Decline documented at the aggregate and sectoral levels.
- Reviews the quality of the available data.
- Uses a growth accounting framework to quantify the productivity slowdown.
- Illustrates how excessive capital accumulation under central planning contributed to the output decline.
- Finds strong evidence that disorganization and inherited sectoral misallocation played a significant role.
- Notes that credit contractions and reductions in aggregate demand may have had an effect, but clear patterns of causality cannot be established.

### Major findings and quantitative focus
- Aggregate and sectoral documentation of output decline across the Kazakh economy.
- Growth accounting used to quantify the productivity slowdown and link it to past capital accumulation patterns under central planning.
- Excessive capital accumulation identified as a contributing factor to output decline.
- Disorganization and inherited sectoral misallocation identified as significant contributors.
- Credit contractions and reductions in aggregate demand considered possible contributors, with causality remaining unclear.

### Data quality and methodology
- Review of the quality of available data for Kazakhstan during the transition period.
- Application of a growth accounting framework to separate productivity effects from factor accumulation effects.

### Subjects and keywords (as provided)
- Subject: Agricultural sector, Commodities, Economic sectors, Industrial sector, Labor, Production, Total factor productivity
- Keywords: Agricultural sector, Baltics, clearing operation, economic system, enterprise, Industrial sector, Kazakh economy, Kazakhstan, output decline, price liberalization, Total factor productivity, Transition economies, WP

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## Content in this bundle

- **Output Deline in Transition : The Case of Kazakhstan - WP/98/45**
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  - [Output Deline in Transition : The Case of Kazakhstan - WP/98/45 (PDF)](/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/_wp9845.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/30/output-decline-in-transition-the-case-of-kazakhstan-2559_