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Traditional anti-corruption measures such as laws, monitoring, and penalties are crucial, but often fail to shift daily habits. Kazakhstan has invested heavily in such instruments, yet corruption continues to surface in everyday interactions, from minor services to large-scale procurement. This suggests that formal rules alone cannot change people’s habits deeply.
Alibek Moldaniyazov.
Nobel laureate Richard Thaler and Harvard professor Cass Sunstein’s book “Nudge” shows how behavioral economics can solve everyday problems. In recent years, this approach has also been applied to corruption. If we follow this logic, almost any area of public life can be reshaped – whether preventing littering, saving water, helping families manage budgets, or even motivating neighborhoods to exercise. For Kazakhstan, nudging offers a way to complement enforcement with low-cost, psychologically smart interventions which promote integrity in daily life.
Why behavior matters? Corruption is not always the result of malicious intent. It often grows from routine practices, weak incentives, and existing social norms. When people believe “everyone does it” they justify small bribes or favors. Behavioral economics shows that decisions are shaped by context and cues rather than pure logic. If corruption is the easy path, many will follow it. If honesty becomes the default, behavior shifts in the opposite direction. For example, digitalization is the one method which reduces face-to-face interactions and ultimately changes people’s everyday habits. For instance, in South Korea, transparent service delivery and citizen monitoring limited informal payments. Even small interventions, such as posting the names of officials responsible for services, improved accountability. These experiences show nudges can complement legal frameworks.
Kazakhstan also took huge actions against corruption. The nation established an anti-corruption agency, a strong legal system, and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev regularly emphasized the importance of anti-corruption measures. But, at the same time citizens remain skeptical to some extent. Trust erodes when they encounter bureaucratic hurdles or see rules applied unevenly. To strengthen its strategy, the Kazakh government should not only rely on “sticks” like penalties but also apply “nudges” that make compliance easier and more natural.
Three suggestions to apply behavioral economics
First, transparency cues in public officers. It might be posters stating “This service is free of charge” or digital screens showing official fees and waiting times reduce ambiguity and deter unofficial payments. When citizens clearly know their rights, officials have fewer opportunities to exploit uncertainty.
Second, warning letters for senior officials. The anti-corruption agency of Kazakhstan could send an official letter to each newly appointed senior official. The letter would outline corruption risks linked to their position and require quarterly reports on how these risks are managed. Most importantly, the report would be presented not only to the anti-corruption agency but also to the President of Kazakhstan. Such a measure would keep integrity in constant focus and remind leaders that accountability is personal and ongoing.
Third, feedback and recognition so that publicly recognizing organizations and ministry cabinets with clean records can encourage healthy competition. Studies show that people respond strongly to social recognition. A “clean office” rating system – displayed online or at service points. In this case, such actions reinforce integrity as a source of pride rather than a bureaucratic burden.
Why does this approach fit with Kazakhstan?
First of all, Kazakhstan is currently using some nudging techniques in the public policy area. Nazarbayev University already established a new Centre for Public Administration and Behavioral Policy within the National Analytical Centre (NAC). The government aims to strengthen public administration, expand digitalization, and build citizen trust. In addition, nudges are low-cost, scalable, and adaptable to different settings. In other words, it can be used from Astana’s urban service centres to rural offices. Only that they require creativity more than funding millions of tenge, so that nudging is a kind of supplementary component of existing reforms and rules.
To sum up, corruption undermines growth, weakens trust between government and citizens, harms overall development. Kazakhstan has made progress in building institutions and laws; however, rules alone cannot change behavior. Nudging through transparency cues, official warning letters, and public recognition – offers a way to make integrity the easy choice, not the hard one.
This is not about replacing enforcement but about enriching the legal system, “forcing” citizens to adopt laws and rules without strict penalties. By combining strong laws with behavioral insights, Kazakhstan can move closer to a culture where honesty is not just legally required but socially expected. Nudges may be subtle, but their impact can be powerful and long-term. Making integrity a natural habit for citizens and government officials will strengthen governance, curb corruption, and drive economic growth.
The author is Alibek Moldaniyazov, a graduate student of the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Astana Times.
