SCIENTIFIC DIALOGUE AS A FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH: another meeting of the “Ystyq Shelpeq” Economists Club held

On March 30, 2026, another meeting of the “Ystyq Shelpeq” Economists Club was held, bringing together faculty members and doctoral students of the Higher School of Economics and Tourism. The online session, conducted via Microsoft Teams, once again served as a platform for in-depth academic dialogue, exchange of ideas, and the development of research directions.

During the meeting, two relevant and contemporary academic studies were presented and discussed, reflecting current trends in economic science and opening new opportunities for the preparation of doctoral dissertations. It is worth noting that both articles are indexed in the Scopus database.

The first presentation focused on the article “Examining the Nexus Between Fiscal Decentralization, Green Finance, and the Digital Economy: A Cross-Country Panel Study”, published in the journal Economies (author: Elena Rusu Cigu). Mansiya Zhanabay, the first-year doctoral student emphasized that the study is based on the “nexus” approach, which considers these factors in their interconnection. The findings show that fiscal decentralization enhances the effectiveness of economic policy by expanding regional capacities, green finance directs investments toward sustainable projects, and the digital economy provides the technological foundation for these processes. The authors conclude that the greatest impact is achieved through the synergy of these elements. The scientific significance of the study lies in its integrated analysis of key dimensions of modern economic transformation and its relevance for developing dissertation research models.

The second presentation was based on the article “How does digitalization affect the urban–rural income gap?”, published in the journal Socio-Economic Planning Sciences (Yulong Jie, Shuigen Hu, Siling Zhu, Jue Wang). Bakyt Zlobin, the first-year doctoral student reported that the study examines the impact of digitalization on income inequality in developing countries using panel data analysis, fsQCA, and NCA methods. The authors demonstrate that the effect of digitalization is nonlinear and depends on a combination of factors such as digital infrastructure, digital finance, and the institutional environment. The findings indicate that comprehensive digital transformation contributes to reducing the income gap, whereas its fragmented development may, on the contrary, exacerbate inequality. The scientific contribution of the study lies in its application of a configurational approach, enabling a deeper understanding of complex socio-economic processes.

As noted by Doctor of Economics, Professor, Honorary Head of the Department of Economics and Entrepreneurship, Aigul Bulatovna Maidyrova, such materials allow doctoral students, even at early stages of their studies, to structure their research, refine research questions, and build a solid theoretical foundation.

The meeting was accompanied by an active discussion: participants asked questions, clarified methodological approaches, and explored the applicability of the findings in the context of the national economy. This format promotes critical thinking, the ability to argue one’s position, and engagement in academic discourse.

Such meetings play a crucial role in fostering research culture and strengthening the academic environment. The “Ystyq Shelpeq” Club continues to serve as an important intellectual platform where not only current scientific achievements are discussed, but also the foundations of future doctoral research are laid.