MIDDLE CLASS IN KAZAKHSTAN AND CRITERIA FOR ITS ALLOCATION

Abstract

This article presents the results of sociological studies of the middle class in Kazakhstan and its role in the stability of the social structure and social consensus of the Kazakh society. A number of criteria for identifying the middle class that exists in world sociology were used. The survey showed that the financial situation of the majority of middle-class respondents has improved over the past year, and only a small part of the respondents (29.9%) remained at the same level of material prosperity. The results of the survey also showed that the characteristic feature of the middle class is the ownership of property (71.1%), characterized by the ownership of comfortable housing in prestigious areas, cottages and private homes. At a high level of the middle class, the availability of services by means of scientific and technological progress (e-mail, Internet, mobile phone, cable TV). The results of the study showed the problems that hinder entrepreneurial activity, business activity of the middle class, such as a high level of taxation, unfavorable credit conditions, antitrust policy, imperfection of the current legislation on public procurement.