Abstract
This article presents an analytical study of the state policy of socio-economic development and problems of single-industry towns. The study covers four cities in Eastern Kazakhstan: Ridder, Serebryansk, Altai, and Kurchatov. It examines the infrastructural conditions, the socio-economic dynamics, and the interdependence between the socio-economic situation of these cities and the activities of urban enterprises. The study identifies key issues such as deteriorating infrastructure, economic stagnation, labor market problems, and demographic shifts. The article pays particular attention to the influence of economic and social factors on the development trajectories of these cities, including targeted public policies and private investment initiatives. The authors analyze current efforts under national and regional development programs, assess their effectiveness, and identify areas for improvement. The findings highlight the difficulty of maintaining socio-economic stability in cities dependent on a single industry. It is worth noting that the study is limited by sample size and focuses exclusively on four cities, which limits the wider applicability of its findings. In addition, the article discusses the limitations of the current study and suggests directions for future research, which include a wider range of single-industry cities in different regions of Kazakhstan and beyond.