| ID | 140449 |
| Title Proper | Informal payments and connections in post-Soviet Kazakhstan |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Oka, Natsuko |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In Soviet times, useful contacts had more value than money, and getting things done through unofficial channels of personal relations was a socially accepted norm. What changes have market reforms brought to Kazakhstan in these areas? This article details the use of informal payments and connections in Almaty and examines why non-monetary exchange of favours is increasingly being replaced by the immediate exchange of cash for assistance. This article argues that urban residents are becoming more inclined to quickly return a favour through cash and evade the lengthy exchanges involved in building reciprocal relationships, a practice widely accepted during Soviet times. This article also focuses on the importance of personal contacts in monetized exchange and demonstrates that cash payment is not a least preferred strategy for those who lack necessary networks. Urban residents in Kazakhstan in fact actively mobilize their personal networks to effectively and securely exchange monetary rewards. |
| `In' analytical Note | Central Asian Survey Vol. 34, No.3; Sep 2015: p.330-340 |
| Journal Source | Central Asian Survey Vol: 34 No 3 |
| Key Words | Kazakhstan ; Reciprocity ; Marketization ; Connections ; Informal Payments |