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Change and continuity in special economic zones: a reassessment and lessons from China

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  • Xiangming Chen

Abstract

Special economic zones (SEZs) have been used as an important national development instrument around the world for the past several decades. While EZs have continued to grow, they vary considerably across developing countries in form, function and effectiveness. This wide variation challenges development scholars and policymakers to probe factors that render some SEZs more successful than others and at certain stages of development than at others, and, second, allow some SEZs to sustain their success while triggering others to fail or become obsolete. China stands out not only in having created the largest number and variety of SEZs but also in building some SEZs in other developing countries. With this exceptional combination of inside and outside experience with SEZs, China presents a timely opportunity for reassessing the new global landscape of SEZs. This paper traces the evolution of SEZ development in China and draws out policy lessons.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangming Chen, . "Change and continuity in special economic zones: a reassessment and lessons from China," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
  • Handle: RePEc:unc:tncjou:3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thierry Pairault, 2019. "China in Africa: Phoenix nests versus Special Economic Zones," Working Papers hal-01968812, HAL.
    2. Gereffi,Gary, 2019. "Global Value Chains and Development," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108458863, September.
    3. Gereffi,Gary, 2019. "Global Value Chains and Development," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108471947, September.
    4. Alan Wiig & Jonathan Silver, 2019. "Turbulent presents, precarious futures: urbanization and the deployment of global infrastructure," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(6), pages 912-923, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Zhigao & Schindler, Seth & Liu, Weidong, 2020. "Demystifying Chinese overseas investment in infrastructure: Port development, the Belt and Road Initiative and regional development," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    2. Rajneesh Narula & James X. Zhan, . "Using special economic zones to facilitate development: policy implications," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    3. Tom Goodfellow & Zhengli Huang, 2022. "Manufacturing urbanism: Improvising the urban–industrial nexus through Chinese economic zones in Africa," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 59(7), pages 1459-1480, May.
    4. Shi, Buchao & Huang, Liangxiong & Wei, Shengmin & Geng, Xinyue, 2022. "Overseas industrial parks and China's outward foreign direct investment," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    5. François Bost, . "Special economic zones: methodological issues and definition," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

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