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The Turkic Republics are increasingly recognized as key contributors to global development. Endowed with abundant natural resources and strategically located along major trade corridors, they have recently united under the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to harmonize policies and strengthen regional cooperation. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus face a shared challenge: the prevalence of large informal economies. This informality undermines transparency, weakens governance, and impedes sustainable growth.
This volume provides the first systematic comparative analysis of shadow economies across the Turkic Republics. Seven country chapters and an introductory comparative chapter examine the causes, consequences, and policy approaches to informality in the OTS.
The book highlights both shared legacies and diverging institutional paths. It contrasts the socialist legacies of the post-Soviet republics with the market-oriented traditions of others in the region, illustrating how these distinct backgrounds shape shadow economies. It also documents the persistence of informal activity and its intersections to institutional trust, labor markets, digitalization, and sustainability.
By combining cross-country comparisons with detailed national perspectives, the volume advances scholarship and offers actionable insights for policymakers aiming to reduce shadow economies and foster sustainable development.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Introduction: Comparative Analyses of Shadow Economies of Turkic Republics.- Chapter 2: Tackling the Shadow Economy in Azerbaijan: Are There Any Results?.- Chapter 3: Digital Revolution and the Shadow Economy: Opportunities and Challenges for Kazakhstan.- Chapter 4: Earnings and Informality Choice Among the Self-Employed in Kazakhstan.- Chapter 5: Shadow Economy in Kyrgyzstan: Analysis and Tackling Policies.- Chapter 6: The Effect of Shadow Economy, Public Debt and Energy Efficiency Measures on Ecological Quality in Türkiye.- Chapter 7: Shadow Economy of a Nation in Shadows: The Case of TRNC.- Chapter 8: Measuring the Shadow Economy in Uzbekistan Using the Electricity Consumption Model.
About the author
Elshan Bagirzadeh
is Associate Professor at Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC). His research focuses on shadow economies and development, with numerous publications on economic informality and institutional dynamics.
Omer Gokcekus
is Professor at Seton Hall University’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations. His research centers on governance, corruption, and wine economics, with publications spanning both academic and policy-oriented outlets.
Summary
The Turkic Republics are increasingly recognized as
key contributors
to global development. Endowed with abundant natural resources and strategically located along major trade corridors, they have recently united under the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to harmonize policies and strengthen regional cooperation. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus face a shared challenge:
the prevalence of large informal economies
. This informality undermines transparency, weakens governance, and impedes sustainable growth.
This volume provides the first systematic comparative analysis of shadow economies across the Turkic Republics. Seven country chapters and an introductory comparative chapter examine the causes, consequences, and policy approaches to informality in the OTS.
The book highlights both shared legacies and diverging institutional paths. It contrasts the socialist legacies of the post-Soviet republics with the market-oriented traditions of others in the region, illustrating how these distinct backgrounds shape shadow economies. It also documents the persistence of informal activity and its intersections to institutional trust, labor markets, digitalization, and sustainability.
By combining cross-country comparisons with detailed national perspectives, the volume advances scholarship and offers actionable insights for policymakers aiming to reduce shadow economies and foster sustainable development.
