Lotta Moberg, PhD, CFA

Despite decades of international experience, there remains no blueprint for successful special economic zone policies. We propose a ‘robust political economy’ framework that divides political economy problems into those of inadequate knowledge and distorted incentives.

It worked in China, so why not in Africa? The political economy challenge of Special Economic Zones

This article explores the benefits and downsides of special economic zones, and analyzes their economic and political impact on the United States. It argues that, though widely implemented in the country, the zones have likely done more harm than good for the United States.

The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones - Lessons for the United States

This paper is a first attempt to apply a robust political economy framework to explain when Special Economic Zones can contribute to economic development. The framework can be applied to judge their potential efficacy, something that orthodox studies of country features such as natural resources, infrastructure, and zone location fail to do.

The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones - Lessons for the United States

Introduction

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