Developing a Methodology for Measuring Regional Socio-Economic Development Balance: A Case Study of Kazakhstan

In the modern world, many countries experience increasing territorial imbalances in socio-economic development, exacerbating inequality and posing risks to social stability and sustainable economic growth. This study develops a methodological approach to assess regional socio-economic balance, tailored for Kazakhstan, and tests its applicability using selected regional data. The research employs comparative and systematic analysis, correlation analysis, expert surveys, the integral method, ranking, and classification techniques. The study reviews existing methodologies for measuring inequality and territorial disparities, identifying a lack of methodological consensus. To address this gap, an original framework is proposed, based on the calculation of the Socio-Economic Balance Index using integral multi-criteria decision analysis and ranking of indicators. Based on expert survey data and correlation analysis of per capita nominal income with selected variables, four economic and six social indicators were identified for index computation. Empirical testing in Kazakhstan’s regions confirmed the method’s practicality and ease of use. Results show that most analyzed regions (8 out of 12) have low socio-economic balance. The study recommends that policymakers apply this methodology for regional monitoring, developing state support measures for economically depressed areas, and forecasting migration trends.