This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the development dynamics of cities in Kazakhstan, focusing on the interplay between economic and social factors and their impact on the Gross Regional Product (GRP). Employing a dataset encompassing a range of indicators, cities were categorized into development groups (Highly Developed, Moderately Developed, Less Developed) based on normalized composite scores. The study aimed to test two central hypotheses through Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) analysis: firstly, that economic factors are significant positive determinants of GRP, overshadowing the influence of social factors; and secondly, that social factors significantly influence GRP, with economic factors playing a lesser role. The analysis revealed that economic factors, including SME activity, retail trade, fixed capital investment, and tax revenue, exhibited a substantial impact on GRP, whereas social factors like population growth, average salary, and income levels showed relatively less influence. The findings underscore the predominance of economic determinants in shaping regional productivity, providing critical insights for strategic urban development planning and policy-making. By highlighting the differential impacts of economic and social factors on urban development, this study contributes to the broader understanding of regional growth dynamics and offers a data-driven foundation for targeted developmental initiatives in Kazakhstan's urban centers.

Many contemporary HRM systems have been developed based on motivation theories. Herzberg's theory of motivation serves as a methodology for examining and constructing motivation systems within organizations. This study aims to uncover the relationship between respondents' descriptive characteristics and hygienic/motivating factors and their impact on employee performance in the university and the industry. Employing a questionnaire method and utilizing Likert's 5-point scale for assessment, the authors collected, coded, and analyzed data using the SPSS Statistics Program. The study establishes the influence of hygienic and motivating factors on employee performance. When the hygienic factor increases by one unit, university employees' performance decreases by 0.239 units. In industry, it decreases by 0.085. Both research subjects showcase a direct relationship between performance and motivating factors, demonstrating a positive correlation. When the motivating factors see an increase of one unit, university employees' performance likewise increases by 0.643 units. In the Industry context, this rise in motivation corresponds to a 0.245 unit increase. Within the two-factor theory framework, both factors are deemed significant for employees, yet providing motivating factors is considered more crucial. Enhanced motivation through equitable and adequate stimuli practices corresponds to increased employee performance.

In Kazakhstan, the tourism sector exhibits significant potential to contribute to the national economy through its influence on employment dynamics, gross value added, and trade balances. However, challenges such as gender disparities in employment and varying contributions to goods and services exports highlight the need for deeper analysis. This study aimed to examine the impact of tourism on Kazakhstan’s economy, focusing on employment trends, gross value added, and trade performance. The data from 2012 to 2022 provided by the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan were analyzed using the ARIMA model. The analysis showed that the average value added from tourism (GVAT) over the period amounted to 2,050.5 billion tenge, peaking at 3,270.1 billion tenges in 2022. The share of GVAT in GDP ranged from 2.9% to 4.1%, confirming its stable contribution to the economy. Foreign tourists' spending significantly contributed to GVAT growth, while domestic spending had a minimal impact. Key findings revealed stable growth in tourism’s contribution to GDP and employment, with significant disparities in male and female employment trends, particularly in recent years. The findings of the study emphasize the need to attract high-spending tourists, promote gender equality in employment, and expand exports of services as key areas for sustainable tourism growth in Kazakhstan. In future studies, it is proposed that the impact of environmental factors on tourism development and gender barriers to employment be studied in depth.