IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/pra/mprapa/103227.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

A comparative study of export processing zones in the wake of sustainable development goals: Cases of Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Adu-Gyamfi, Richard
  • Asongu, Simplice
  • Mmusi, Tinaye
  • Wamalwa, Herbert
  • Mangori, Madei

Abstract

The objective of this research is to assess the extent to which export processing zones in Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe integrate the Sustainable Development Goals in their implementation and operations. We focused on four Sustainable Development Goals—gender equality, decent work, industry, and climate action. We interviewed four zone authorities, one in each country. A total of 12 firms in the agro-processing, textiles and garments, construction, and real estate sectors were also interviewed. All four zone authorities demonstrate a measure of environmental inclusiveness in their zone programmes. We found that firms in Kenya and Zimbabwe have a higher number of male than female employees, while zones in Tanzania employ more women. We propose that to promote sustainable development in these zones, policy action should concentrate on attracting firms that (are willing and able to) align with the particular Sustainable Development Goal that zone programmes are intended to achieve.

Suggested Citation

  • Adu-Gyamfi, Richard & Asongu, Simplice & Mmusi, Tinaye & Wamalwa, Herbert & Mangori, Madei, 2020. "A comparative study of export processing zones in the wake of sustainable development goals: Cases of Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe," MPRA Paper 103227, University Library of Munich, Germany.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:103227
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/103227/1/MPRA_paper_103227.pdf
    File Function: original version
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Piotr Ciżkowicz & Magda Ciżkowicz-Pękała & Piotr Pękała & Andrzej Rzońca, 2017. "The effects of special economic zones on employment and investment: a spatial panel modeling perspective," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 17(3), pages 571-605.
    2. Börje Johansson & John M. Quigley, 2004. "Agglomeration and networks in spatial economies," Advances in Spatial Science, in: Raymond J. G. M. Florax & David A. Plane (ed.), Fifty Years of Regional Science, pages 165-176, Springer.
    3. Simplice Asongu & John Ssozi, 2016. "Sino-African Relations: Some Solutions and Strategies to the Policy Syndromes," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(1), pages 33-51, January.
    4. Thomas Farole, 2011. "Special Economic Zones in Africa : Comparing Performance and Learning from Global Experience," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2268.
    5. repec:bla:devpol:v:21:y:2003:i:1:p:51-65 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Kaplinsky, Raphael, 1993. "Export Processing Zones in the Dominican Republic: Transforming manufactures into commodities," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 21(11), pages 1851-1865, November.
    7. Thomas Farole & Gokhan Akinci, 2011. "Special Economic Zones : Progress, Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2341.
    8. Martin Sokol, 2011. "Economic Geographies of Globalisation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13972.
    9. Madani, Dorsati, 1999. "A review of the role and impact of export processing zones," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2238, The World Bank.
    10. Papadopoulos, Nicolas, 1987. "The role of free zones in international strategy," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 5(2), pages 112-120, June.
    11. repec:ilo:ilowps:398959 is not listed on IDEAS
    12. Singa Boyenge, Jean-Pierre., 2007. "ILO database on export processing zones (Revised)," ILO Working Papers 993989593402676, International Labour Organization.
    13. Carol Newman & John Page, 2017. "Industrial clusters: The case for Special Economic Zones in Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 015, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Carol Newman & John Page, 2017. "Industrial clusters: The case for Special Economic Zones in Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-15, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    15. Dean Spinanger, 1984. "Objectives and impact of economic activity zones — Some evidence from Asia," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 120(1), pages 64-89, March.
    16. World Bank, 2019. "Doing Business 2019," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 30438.
    17. Johansson, Helena & Nilsson, Lars, 1997. "Export processing zones as catalysts," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(12), pages 2115-2128, December.
    18. Douglas Zhihua Zeng, 2010. "Building Engines for Growth and Competitiveness in China : Experience with Special Economic Zones and Industrial Clusters," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2501.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Neva Makgetla, 2021. "Learning from experience: Special Economic Zones in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-124, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Douglas Zhihua Zeng, 2022. "What Determines the Heterogeneous Performance of Special Economic Zones? Evidence from Sub‐Sahara Africa," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 13(4), pages 495-506, September.
    2. Douglas Zhihua Zeng, 2016. "Global Experiences of Special Economic Zones with Focus on China and Africa: Policy Insights," Journal of International Commerce, Economics and Policy (JICEP), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 1-27, October.
    3. 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.
    4. Jiabo Xu & Xingping Wang, 2020. "Reversing Uncontrolled and Unprofitable Urban Expansion in Africa through Special Economic Zones: An Evaluation of Ethiopian and Zambian Cases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose & Federico Bartalucci & Susanne A. Frick & Amelia U. Santos‐Paulino & Richard Bolwijn, 2022. "The challenge of developing special economic zones in Africa: Evidence and lessons learnt," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(2), pages 456-481, April.
    6. World Bank Group, 2017. "Special Economic Zones," World Bank Publications - Reports 29054, The World Bank Group.
    7. Ronald B. Davies & Arman Mazhikeyev, 2019. "The Impact of Special Economic Zones on Exporting Behavior," Review of Economic Analysis, Digital Initiatives at the University of Waterloo Library, vol. 11(1), pages 145-174, July.
    8. 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).
    9. Zeng,Zhihua, 2015. "Global experiences with special economic zones : focus on China and Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7240, The World Bank.
    10. Khan, Karim, 2019. "Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Prospects for the Domestic Economy of Pakistan," MPRA Paper 103337, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Susanne A. Frick & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, 2022. "Special Economic Zones and Sourcing Linkages with the Local Economy: Reality or Pipedream?," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 655-676, April.
    12. Abel Kinyondo & Carol Newman & Finn Tarp, 2016. "The role and effectiveness of Special Economic Zones in Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2016-122, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    13. Susanne Frick & Andrés Rodríguez-Pose, . "Are special economic zones in emerging countries a catalyst for the growth of surrounding areas?," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    14. Ayçıl Yücer & Jean-Marc Siroën, 2017. "Trade Performance of Export Processing Zones," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(5), pages 1012-1038, May.
    15. Ana Margarida Fernandes & Hibret Maemir & Aaditya Mattoo & Alejandro Forero, 2019. "Are trade preferences a panacea? The African growth and opportunity act and African exports," CESifo Working Paper Series 7672, CESifo.
    16. Abagna, Matthew Amalitinga, 2023. "Special Economic Zones and Local Economic Activities in Ethiopia," MPRA Paper 117427, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Abel Kinyondo & Carol Newman & Finn Tarp, 2016. "The role and effectiveness of Special Economic Zones in Tanzania," WIDER Working Paper Series 122, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    18. Zheng, Guo & Barbieri, Elisa & Di Tommaso, Marco R. & Zhang, Lei, 2016. "Development zones and local economic growth: zooming in on the Chinese case," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 238-249.
    19. Ronald B. Davies & Rodolphe Desbordes, 2018. "Export Processing Zones and the Composition of Greenfield FDI," Working Papers 201807, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    20. Farole, Thomas & Moberg, Lotta, 2014. "It worked in China, so why not in Africa? The political economy challenge of Special Economic Zones," WIDER Working Paper Series 152, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    export processing zones; sustainable development; Botswana; Kenya; Southern Africa; Tanzania; Zimbabwe;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O25 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Development Planning and Policy - - - Industrial Policy
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • O57 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Comparative Studies of Countries
    • Q01 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - Sustainable Development

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:103227. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Joachim Winter (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/vfmunde.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.