Abildayev S. T., PhD doctoral candidate

Taraz State University named after M.Kh.Dulaty,

Republic of Kazakhstan

 

Economic environment of the Zhambyl oblast as a factor  of regional competitiveness of Kazakhstan

 

One of features of modern Kazakhstan economy is differentiation rates of economic development of its regions. Strengthening competition between the oblasts of Republic acquires greater meaningfulness, as a result not only social-economic factor’s role, but also competitive advantages of regions increases.

Competition as one of major constituents of market economy functioning mechanism and it is an object of intent attention of researchers during more than 200.  Many prominent economists studied the problems of competition, as a result in science there were three main approaches of competition research, which each of them are considered all-sufficient.

Yet in the end of XVIII century А.Smith, and then at the beginning of XIX century of D.Ricardo had put fundamental positions of free competition essence, which is being the basis of modern theoretical developments. Later in works of А.Curno, L.Valras, G.B.Cark, А.Marshall, F.Knight and others, the term competition was interpreted within the framework of behavioral approach as a force, characterizing cooperation of demand and supply [1], [2]. So in economic science there were static and dynamic approaches to the analysis of market models of competition.

At the beginning of XX century changes were brought in theoretical ideas of competition essence under influence its transformation from perfect model to imperfect and monopoly competition. So in works of F.Edguorto, G.Robinson, E.Chamberlin and other largest scientists had a distribution of structural interpretation of competition, in which an accent is displaced from the fight of companies against each other on the analysis of market structure. A market analysis became the basic idea of approach, where the producers of the differentiated products operates, whose we can consider them as a monopolists. Thus each of them has certain market authority over part of consumers [3].

The third approach to the study of competition from of functional interpretation position has found a reflection in works of I.Shumpeter, F.Hayek, G.М.Clark, E. Kirsner and others. At this rate competition is investigated by them as an active process of rivalry and cooperation, which is occurred under influence of new forms of organization production, discoveries, knowledge, and also use of enterprise potential [4].

Among the newest approaches to the analysis of competition theories of achieving leadership at the market  are distinguished, which are worked out by American economic school (М.Porter, G.Hamel, K.K.Prahalad, А. Kavis, A.Chandler, B. Fortman, А. Lourens and  others). They combine experience of knowledge about competition, competitive activity and methods of competitor’s behaviour at the market. Thus the methods of achieving competitive advantages are distinguished in introduction of new technologies, application of innovations and expansion of competition scale [5].

The Kazakhstan scientists also brought their contribution to the development of national model of providing competitiveness.  Among fundamental works we can distinguish labours of such scientists, as U.Baimuratov, K.Kazhimurat, О.Sabden, K.Sagadiev, N.Nurlanova   and others. Their research affected numerous aspects, beginning from factors, terms and criteria of competitiveness, and ending the mechanisms of increasing competitiveness of regions and country on the whole.

Then, today what do we understand under a competition term and what are features of regional competition? A competition (latin. concurrere - to compete) is a rivalry between the participants of market economy for the best terms of production, purchase and sale of commodities. Such inevitable collision is generated by objective terms: by the complete economic apartness of every subject of market, its complete dependence on economic state of affairs and opposing with other pretenders for more profit. It is a law of the market; it is a fight for an economic survival and prosperity.

Competition can be classified on a few grounds: а) on the scales of development; b) by the nature c) and on the methods of rivalry. On the scales of development a competition can be:

- individual, when one participant of market aims to choose the best terms of purchase-sale of commodities and services;

- local, if it is conducted among commodity owners on some territories;

- sectoral, when a fight goes for receiving more profit on one of industries of market.

- intersectoral when the rivalry of representatives of different industries market takes place for bringing customers on their side aiming for  more profit;

- national, if the contests of national commodity owners are inside this country;

- global, when the fight of enterprises, economic associations and states of different countries are taken place   in the world market.

By the nature development of competition is divided into: on free and regulative. On the methods of conduct there is a market rivalry which is divided into: price (market positions of rivals are blown up by means of price-cutting) and no price (victory is gained by upgrading products, the best maintenance of customers).

Competitiveness of region – it is  conditioned by economic, social, political and by other factors of region position and its separate commodity producers on internal and external markets, reflected through indexes (indicators), adequately characterizing such condition and its dynamics [6].

In this connection it is important to designate factors influencing on the level of region’s competitiveness, and in particular to define an economic environment having dominant position in the last row.

In of E.А. Novoselov opinion view, he distinguishes the absolute and relative competitiveness of region’s economy. Under the absolute competitiveness of region’s economy, it is necessary to understand totality of its physico-geographical and social-economic descriptions that create terms of forming of economic patterns and structures of distribution on its territory. The relative region’s economy competitiveness is determined in the ranged row of all regions on the same level of administrative-territorial hierarchy of the country [7].

We will consider the economic environment of the Zhambyl oblast of Republic of Kazakhstan and will estimate it as a factor of region’s competitiveness.

Foremost, it should be noted that the Zhambyl oblast formed in 1939 and is located on the south of Republic of Kazakhstan. An oblast occupies a 144,2 thousand kilometre².  According to estimations 2010 year about 1,2 million population, more than 100 nationalities lives there,  and 71 %  of them are  Kazakh [8].

According to last data of the final meeting with Zhambyl oblast’s chair K.Bozymbayev, oblast’s economy develops with fast tempos. By preliminary estimation, the volume of gross regional product of the Zhambyl oblast in 2011 comprised of 532,1 milliard of tenge, that is  12 % higher than the  level of 2010 year. Gros regional product per capita is 507 thousand tenge against 438 thousand tenge in 2010 (in 2009 this index equaled to 342 thousand tenge) (Picture 1).

 

Note - it is counted by an author on the basis of data of  RK Agency  on statistics.

Picture 1 Gross National product per capita of Zhambyl oblast population of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The high rate of gross regional product increase of oblast is provided due to the development of basic industries of economy, as production, agriculture, construction, transport and communication.

The volume of industrial production of Zhambyl’s oblast in 2011 year increased to 30,9%, which is  the highest index among the   Republic regions. Portion of industry in the structure of Gross National product of region increased from 17% in 2009  to 20,4% in 2011, that testifies  further industrialization of oblast’s economy [9].

However, it is necessary to notice that rise of oblast’s economy is directly connected with the development of using raw mineral-material bases of area. The Zhambul oblast, as it is generally known, is the unique base of phosphorus material. On its territory 71,9%  of reserve balance phosphorus material 68% of fluor-spar, 8,8% gold, 0,7% uranium of  republic are concentrated. An oblast is rich in the coloured metals, heavy spar, coal, cladding, carpentry and technical stones, construction materials. The highest rates of production are attained in mining industry. Major corporations of industry are - “Akbaisk” ore mining industrial complex, "Кaratau" mining-chemical industrial complex, "Janatas» ore mining and processing industrial complex.  “New Zhambyl” phosphoric plant and "Каzfosfat" plant which are producing yellow phosphorus, quartz, mineral fertilizers and synthetic cleansers renewed its work.

At the present time it is planning to create  the special economic zone  Chemical park "Taraz" in Zhambyl oblast with participation of national welfare fund  "Samruk-Kazyna" and "Incorporated chemical company" and with the purpose of creation new export oriented production of chemical goods on the basis of high-effective technologies. Creation of economic zone  "Chemical park "Taraz " supposes to create about 15 plants on the production of wide assortment of products, some of them  do not have analogues on the soviet union countries’ territory  [9].

According to statistics, the index of physical volume in processing industry of Zhambyl oblast is   made 133,3% in 2011, exceeding  a 18% of  plan. In mining industry an increase was 27, 6 %. The labour productivity in manufacturing industry grew to 46,7% and it is the third index in Republic.

If we do not consider other spheres of activity the analysis of economic environment of the Zhambyl oblast will not be full enough. So, leather-shoes, light industry and food industry are developed in this oblast. The plant «Tulpar" (wool preprocessing), autorepair plant, plant on the production of glass  "Aynek" operates. On the whole specific gravity of industry in the gross product of oblast is  23,8%, that exceeds agriculture industry  for  3,6% (picture 2).

 

 

 

Picture 2 - Structure of gross product of Zhambyl oblast

 

Besides, climatic conditions of Zhambyl oblast allows to grow grain, technical, forage crops, vegetables, fruit. Natural forage lands predetermine sheep breeding development.

Thus, competitive positions of the region, certainly, are defined by competitiveness of the sectors making structure of its economy. However we will dare to agree with the Russian scientist A.G.Granberg opinion, who argued that the region should be considered not only as set of natural, human, financial, production resources, but also as the subject of the social and economic relations capable to self-government that allows speaking about management of competitiveness at the level of the region [10].

 

LITERATURE:

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2.   Вальрас Л. Начала чистой политической экономии или теория общественного богатства. М.: Изограф, 2000. - 448 с.

3.   Экономическая теория / Под ред. Дж. Итуэлла, М. Милгейта, П. Ньюмена: Пер. с анг. / Пер. с англ. под науч. ред. B.C. Автономова. -М.: ИНФРА-М, 2004. - 930 с.

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5.   Портер М. Конкурентное преимущество: Как достичь высокого результата и обеспечить его устойчивость. Пер. с англ. — М.: Альпина Бизнес Букс, 2005. 715 с.

6.   Селезнев А.З. Конкурентные позиции и инфраструктура рынка России. - М.: Юрист, 1999., с. 30.

7.   Новоселова И.А. Интегральная оценка конкурентоспособности экономики регионов // Региональная экономика и управление: электронный научный журнал, 2008. - № 4 (16). - № рег. статьи 0050 . - Режим доступа к журн.: http://region.mcnip.ru .

8.   http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Жамбылская_область

9.   Экономика Жамбылской области развивается опережающими темпами. http://kzinform.com/ru/news/20120229/08992.html