Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/107987 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
WIDER Working Paper No. 2014/152
Publisher: 
The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), Helsinki
Abstract: 
African countries have sought to replicate the success of East Asia by implementing special economic zones. Despite decades of international experience, there remains no blueprint for successful special economic zone policies, and the majority of special economic zones fall well below expectations. We argue this is largely due to flaws in the political economy of special economic zone schemes, which prevent replication of 'best practice' in special economic zone development and management. We propose a 'robust political economy' framework that divides political economy problems into those of inadequate knowledge and distorted incentives. We use it to explain the problems with African special economic zones and to suggest possible solutions.
Subjects: 
Special Economic Zones
Sub-Saharan Africa
foreign direct investment
political economy
industrial policy
JEL: 
F13
F23
F59
F63
O24
P48
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
ISBN: 
978-92-9230-873-5
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
642.46 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.