ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT POLICY MEASURES BASED ON LIVING STANDARDS AND MIDDLE-CLASS WELFARE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF KAZAKHSTAN AND MALAYSIA

Abstract

This article evaluates the comparative effectiveness of government policy measures aimed at supporting the living standards and welfare of the middle class in Kazakhstan and Malaysia. The relevance of the topic is determined by the fact that in Asia, the expansion of the middle class is accompanied by increasing vulnerability, as well as by the role of the middle class as a key driver of economic growth, political stability, and modern state policy reforms [3], [7], [16]. After outlining the approaches to defining the middle class and the main indicators of quality of life, the author analyzes the dynamics of middle-class formation, income levels, inequality, and subjective well-being in Kazakhstan and Malaysia, as well as the priority directions of government policy regarding the middle class in both countries [1], [2], [11], [14]. The analysis shows that in Malaysia, government measures are more economically growth-oriented and focused on the targeted support of households transitioning from low and middle incomes to a sustainable middle class. In contrast, in Kazakhstan, despite the quantitative expansion of the middle class, problems related to income inequality, resource dependence, and fragmented social policy persist [4], [5], [10], [19].