This book examines China's economic development since 1949, with special emphasis on the economic transition of the past two decades and the role of special economic zones in this gradually evolving process. Various issues concerning the formation of the zones are explored. The performance of the zones and their impacts on the Chinese economy and the transitional path are assessed in aspects such as economic growth, structural changes, investment financing, employment and wages, technology transfers and learning, productivity gains, standards of living, trade expansion and the changing pattern of foreign investment. The implications of the special economic zones as a policy instrument to facilitate the process of economic transition and development, as well as the relevant policy issues, are examined.

This book collects the latest academic achievements, research progress and policy propositions on the study of China’s special economic zones, with the aim to reflect the history, new development and new challenges of the construction of Chinese special economic zones. It presents the successful experience of the development of Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area and the changes of its mission and analyzes the problems encountered in the development of Shenzhen special economic zones and the theory of economic system reform.

Industrialization supported by industrial hubs has been widely associated with structural transformation and catch-up. But while the direct economic benefits of industrial hubs are significant, their value lies first and foremost in their contribution as incubators of industrialization, production and technological capability, and innovation. The Oxford Handbook of Industrial Hubs and Economic Development adopts an interdisciplinary approach to examine the conceptual underpinnings, review empirical evidence of regions and economies, and extract pertinent lessons for policy reasearchers and practitioners on the key drivers of success and failure for industrial hubs. This Handbook illustrates the diverse and complex nature of industrial hubs and shows how they promote industrialization, economic structural transformation, and technological catch-up. It explores the implications of emerging issues and trends such as environmental protection and sustainability, technological advancement, shifts in the global economy, and urbanization.

"This book, designed for policymakers, academics and researchers, and SEZ program practitioners, provides the first systematic and comprehensive analysis of SEZ programs in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the result of detailed surveys and case studies conducted during 2009 in ten developing countries, including six in Sub-Saharan Africa. The book provides quantitative evidence of the performance of SEZs, and of the factors which contribute to that performance, highlighting the critical importance not just of the SEZ itself but of the wider national investment climate in which it functions. It also provides a comprehensive guide to the key policy questions that confront governments establishing SEZ programs, including: if and when to launch an SEZ program, what form of SEZ is most appropriate, and how to go about implementing it. Among the most important findings from the study that is stressed in the book is the shift from traditional enclave models of zones to SEZs that are integrated ? with national trade and industrial strategies, with core trade and social infrastructure, with domestic suppliers, and with local labor markets.Although the book focuses primarily on the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa, its lessons will be applicable to developing countries around the world."

For countries as diverse as China and Mauritius, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have been a powerful tool to attract foreign investment, promote export-oriented growth, and generate employment; for many others, the results have been less than encouraging. While the benefits and limitations of zones will no doubt continue to be debated, what is clear is that policymakers are increasingly attracted to them as an instrument of trade, investment, industrial, and spatial policy. Since the mid 1980s, the number of newly-established zones has grown rapidly in almost all regions, with dramatic growth in developing countries. In parallel with this growth and in the evolving context of global trade and investment, zones are also undergoing significant change in both their form and function, with traditional export processing zones (EPZs) increasingly giving way to larger and more flexible SEZ models. This new context will bring significant opportunities for developing countries to take advantage of SEZs, but will also raise new challenges to their successful design and implementation. This volume aims to contribute to a better understanding of the role and practice of SEZs in developing countries, in order to better equip policymakers in making effective decisions in planning and implementing SEZ programs. It covers some of the emerging issues and challenges in SEZs including upgrading, regional integration, WTO compliance, innovation, the environment, and gender issues with practical case examples from SEZ programs in developing countries.

In the past 30 years, China has achieved an unprecedented development 'miracle' in human history. How did China achieve this? What are the key drivers for such a rapid growth? And most importantly, what can be learned from China s success? While many factors could be identified to explain China's success, it is no doubt that the numerous Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and industrial clusters that emerged after the country s reforms are two important engines that have been driving China s rapid development. The key experiences of China's SEZs and industrial clusters could be best summarized as: gradualism with experimental approach; strong commitment; and an active facilitating state with strong pragmatism. This book reviews the development experiences of China's SEZs and industrial clusters through extensive research, field visits, and case studies in an attempt to benefit the policy-makers, development practitioners, scholars from developing countries, and the global development community in general. It contains five detailed case studies three SEZs in the broadest sense (Shenzhen, Tianjin and Kunshan) and two industrial clusters (Wenzhou footwear cluster in Zhejiang and Xiqiao textile cluster in Guangdong). This volume represents the most comprehensive volume to date on China's experiences with both its SEZ and cluster experiences.

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.