International integration and agricultural productivity in Kazakhstan: a Fourier ARDL approach

Purpose This study investigates the effects of Kazakhstan’s membership in international economic organizations such as the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on agricultural total factor productivity (AGTFP) during the period 1992–2022. It aims to understand how institutional integration, trade openness and environmental factors influence agricultural productivity in a transitioning economy. Design/methodology/approach The analysis employs the fractional frequency Fourier ARDL (FFF-ARDL) method, which allows for modeling potential unknown nonlinear structural breaks. Annual data on AGTFP, agricultural GDP, foreign trade ratio and agricultural carbon emissions are analyzed. Dummy variables are used to capture Kazakhstan’s membership in each international organization and comparative models are estimated. Findings The results reveal that EAEU membership has a positive and significant impact on AGTFP, while OTS membership shows a negative effect and SCO membership has no significant effect. Agricultural carbon emissions positively influence productivity in the long run but have a short-run limiting effect. Foreign trade openness limits long-run productivity, reflecting structural dependencies. Research limitations/implications The study is limited to Kazakhstan and focuses on sector-level productivity; cross-country comparisons could provide further insights. Originality/value This study offers a novel empirical investigation into the long-term effects of international institutional integration on agricultural productivity using advanced econometric modeling. By isolating the impacts of multiple international organizations, it contributes to the understanding of how trade and institutional dynamics shape agricultural performance in developing economies.