Kyrgyzstan: Social Protection in a Reforming Economy

摘要

The Government of Kyrgyzstan is committed to moving the country to a marketeconomy after many years of a command system. In the first chapter of the report, an historical perspective is presented of the country, the people and recent economic and social developments. The second chapter then looks at the challenge now facing Kyrgyzstan: coping with population growth, the limited fiscal resources available for social spending, rising unemployment and emerging poverty. It also presents a preliminary analysis of a poverty line which could be used to guide social security policy. The next four chapters suggest a strategy for responding to the challenge. Chapter III focuses on the labor market and steps that could be taken to alleviate the unemployment problem. Chapter IV reviews the various systems and measures of cash benefits and subsidies. Chapters V and VI then examine how the social services could be strengthened, with discussion first of education and then of health and population. Chapter VII examines the potential role of non-government organizations (NGOs) and how levels of poverty could be monitored; while Chapter VIII reviews strategies by which the proposed changes could be introduced.