Artificial intelligence (hereinafter – AI) is increasingly recognised as a transformative force within the banking sector, remodelling traditional risk management practices through improved analytical abilities and improved decision-making processes. The work aims to develop an Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Index (AI Risk Management Index, ARMI) to compare the level of AI implementation and effectiveness across leading banks in Kazakhstan. The research methodology is based on the construction of the composite ARMI index, which includes five standardized components: model accuracy (A), risk coverage (C), depth of integration (I), interpretability (X) and effectiveness (E). Weighting factors were set for each component (0.25, 0.20, 0.20, 0.15, and 0.20, respectively), allowing the consolidated ARMI indicator to be calculated. Empirical data (illustrative) cover the three largest banks in Kazakhstan: Kaspi Bank, ForteBank and Halyk Bank. Calculations show that Kaspi Bank has the highest ARMI (0.75), followed by ForteBank (0.71), while Halyk Bank (0.56) lags significantly behind. Kaspi Bank's greatest strengths are the high accuracy and depth of AI integration. The results of the study show that the active implementation of AI contributes to improving forecast accuracy, reducing operating costs, and developing a proactive risk management culture. At the same time, key problems have been identified – the limited use of AI in certain risk domains and the lack of transparency of algorithms. The proposed ARMI index can be used to monitor the digital maturity of Kazakhstan's banks, as well as to shape government policy on the development of AI in the financial sector.

Gender inequality remains a structural barrier to achieving social well-being and sustainable economic development in Kazakhstan. The aim of the study is to identify the structural factors of gender inequality in the labour market of Kazakhstan during 2020-2024, including the roles of horizontal and vertical segregation and unpaid labour in the formation of income and employment gaps between men and women. The research methods are based on a quantitative approach using official data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2024, in terms of average and median wages, the number of unemployed, and the proportion of women in leadership positions. Descriptive analysis methods, gender pay gap calculations, and Pearson correlation analyses were used to identify relationships among the unemployment rate, income, and the gender employment structure. The study's results showed a stable gender asymmetry. In particular, the gender pay gap during the analysed period ranged from 20% to 26%, the proportion of women in leadership positions remained stable at about 41%, but their representation in Parliament decreased from 26.5% to 18.4%. There is a strong positive correlation between unemployment and wages (r = 0.66), which indicates the concentration of income growth in male, high-paying sectors and structural restrictions on women's access to such positions. The results confirm the systemic and institutional nature of gender inequality in Kazakhstan and emphasize the need to develop targeted measures to reduce vertical segregation and increase women's access to high-income employment.

Digitalization is becoming a key factor in structural transformation and a source of sustainable economic growth, defining new parameters of productivity, employment and investment. The purpose of the study is to determine the relationship between the level of digital literacy of the population, the use of information and communication technologies (hereinafter - ICT) in organizations and macroeconomic indicators in 2018-2024. The study used seven indicators, of which two characterize digital development (the level of digital literacy of the population and the use of ICT in organizations), and five reflect economic dynamics (GDP, fixed capital investment, real wage index, unemployment rate and gross value added per employee). The results of the analysis showed that the growth of digital literacy of the population has a very strong positive correlation with the main economic indicators: GDP (r = 0.934), investments in fixed assets (r = 0.909) and gross value added per employed (r = 0.947). At the same time, the use of ICT in organizations shows a weak and partially negative correlation with GDP (r = -0.205) and investment (r = -0.180), reflecting the structural gap between human and technological capital. Thus, for the period 2018-2024. Digitalization has become a stable factor of macroeconomic growth, with human capital playing a key role. To increase the effectiveness of digital transformation, it is necessary to strengthen the integration of ICT into business processes, develop infrastructure and increase the managerial maturity of organizations.

Religious and cultural tourism is considered as a strategic tool for the development of destinations, combining the preservation of heritage with the growth of hospitality and creative services. Turkestan (Kazakhstan), with the Mausoleum of Khoja Akhmet Yasawi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, presents an illustrative case study of the impact of the sacred core on sustainable demand and the local economy of service. The article uses a mixed methodology: a quantitative analysis of official tourism and accommodation statistics, digital registers of visits, and monthly/quarterly series.; qualitative data from semi-structured interviews; analysis of management documentation. The spatial focus is the core and adjacent service clusters; the analysis period covers 2018-2025. The seasonal attendance profile is characterized by two peaks and “shoulder” months, in which the programming and packaging of tourist products increase the average length of stay and equalize the load. The pressure of visitors is concentrated in narrow areas and hours; the introduction of time slots, pre-booking and “quiet hours” contributes to a more even distribution of visits without reducing the daily total. The largest density of services is observed in the core; in excursions, crafts, gastronomy and small accommodation, SMEs predominate. Policy priorities include the institutionalization of flow management tools, the development of interpretation and multilingual content, support for SME capabilities in the “experience belt” and the integration of administrative data for ongoing monitoring. This configuration aligns the preservation of heritage integrity with the sustainable results of the Turkestan hospitality industry.

The problem of gender inequality in the labor market remains as the most important factor limiting the use of human capital and the potential for sustainable economic growth. The aim of the study is to assess the dynamics of the gender wage gap and empirically verify its relationship with GDP and inflation for 2019-2023. The methodological framework includes descriptive and comparative statistical analysis, calculation of the gender pay gap coefficient (hereinafter – GPG), as well as correlation and regression analysis aimed at identifying the relationship between the gap level and macroeconomic indicators. The data from the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, official collections and open sources on average salaries of men and women by sector and region were used as initial data. The results of the study show that, on average, women earned 24- 27% less than men in 2019, while by 2023 the gap had narrowed to 21%, indicating a partial convergence of incomes. However, in a number of industries (construction, industry, finance) A gap of over 30% remains, while in education and healthcare it is decreasing to 15-18%. The analysis revealed a moderate negative correlation between the dynamics of GDP and the level of the gender gap (r ≈ -0.45), which indicates a partial dependence of income equality on the general state of the economy. Thus, despite the positive trends, eliminating gender inequality requires comprehensive measures aimed at increasing wage transparency, increasing women's access to high-paying sectors, and fostering an inclusive corporate culture.