The political economy of special economic zones : concentrating economic development
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
The political economy of special economic zones : concentrating economic development
（Routledge studies in the modern world economy, 164）
Routledge, 2017
- : hbk
- : pbk
Available at / 7 libraries
-
No Libraries matched.
- Remove all filters.
Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have become a popular development policy throughout the world over the last half a century. These zones form designated areas where governments offer businesses lower taxes, tariffs, and often lighter regulations. Generally, SEZs aim to attract investments and raise a country's export and employment rates, but although success stories are often cited, there are numerous failed projects that have instead become burdens for their host countries.
This book examines SEZs from a political economy perspective, both to dissect the incentives of governments, zone developers, and exporters, and to uncover both the hidden costs and untapped potential of zone policies. Costs include misallocated resources, the encouragement of rent-seeking, and distraction of policy-makers from more effective reforms. However, the zones also have several unappreciated benefits. They can change the politics of a country, by generating a transition from a system of rent-seeking to one of liberalized open markets. In revealing the hidden promise of SEZs, this book shows how the SEZ model of development can succeed in the future.
Applying frameworks from various schools of political economy, this volume places SEZs in the context of their mixed past and promising future. It is essential reading for anyone with an interest in international economics, development economics, and political economy, including practitioners and consultants of SEZ policies.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART I The theory of zone politics
1 The political economy context
2 Are SEZs better than the status quo?: Knowledge and incentive problems with SEZs
3 SEZs as drivers of reform
4 SEZs as promoters of liberalization or protectionism
PART II Case studies
5 The problems of India's SEZs
6 How SEZs reformed China
7 Dividing the Dominican Republic
PART III The political economy of future SEZs
8 Implications for SEZ policy makers
9 The changing world of SEZs
Conclusion
Index
by "Nielsen BookData"