18th June 2019 Tuesday,12:00 AM

ROUNDTABLE: An exploration of the nature of informal economies and shadow practices in the former USSR region focusing on Kyrgyzstan

Hosted by: Dr Ainoura Sagynbaeva

On June 18, SIAR research & consulting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan hosted a roundtable on the topic “An exploration of the nature of informal economies and shadow practices in the former USSR region. The example of Kyrgyzstan”.

A roundtable was organized to discuss preliminary results of a quantitative research on the sizes of shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan. The study was conducted in the framework of the “SHADOW”project with the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (MSCA-RISE-2017) and theHorizon 2020 program of the European Union (Horizon 2020: EU .1.3.3).

The event commenced with presentations of the research project held in Baltic countries and the research conducted in Kyrgyzstan in March 2019. Ainoura Sagynbaeva, PhD, director of SIAR research and consulting and project manager of the research project “The sizes of shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan”, gave an opening speech and moderated discussion. Liga Rudzite, invited researcher from Dublin City University, presented the results of the research done in the Baltic countries (Sauka & Putnins, 2018). Aichurok Ybyraimova, project assistant at SIAR research and consulting, presented the methodology of the quantitative research project, while Ekaterina Mokrousova, analyst at SIAR research and consulting, presented preliminary results of it. The results were based on the survey filled out using CATI method by 502 registered small, medium and large businesses. According to preliminary results, the approximate level of the shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan is 29.8%. 

The research project consists of three mutual steps. The first step is a quantitative survey performed in Kyrgyzstan in March. The second is in-depth expert interviews and the third is case studies to be conducted as part of the “SHADOW”project.

Eighteen invited guests took part in the roundtable discussion including journalists, experts, researchers, university professors and representatives of international donors. The roundtable participants expressed interest in the international research project, discussed the project methodology and outlined possible cooperation after the presentation of the final research results at the end of 2019. The intentions to host joint conferences, roundtables in a number of universities in Bishkek were expressed from the participants.

Article posted on the SIAR research and consulting website:

http://siar-consult.com/en/news/kruglyj-stol-siar-tenevaya-ekonomika/

References to articles of local media:

https://economist.kg/2019/06/18/ozvuchena-nezavisimaya-ocenka-tenevoj-ekonomiki-kyrgyzstana-29-8/

https://www.akchabar.kg/ru/news/38-biznesmenov-schitayut-uklonenie-ot-nalogov-normalnym/

http://vecherka.kg/2019/06/21/podrob/1.html