SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES: STATE AND FEATURES OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE WORLD
Authors: Bocharova Yu. H. , Chernega O. B. , Kozhuhova T. V. , Ishchenko O. V. 
Published: June 2023

Objective. The objective of the present research is an analysis of the state and features of the development of special economic zones in the world.

Methods. The following methods and techniques of cognition were used in the research process: theoretical generalization and comparison, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, grouping.

Results. It was established that in 1975-2018, the number of countries in the world in which special economic zones were created increased more than 5 times, and the number of special economic zones - more than 67 times. As of 2018, there were almost 5,400 special economic zones in 147 countries. It was established that the development of SEZs in the world has a wave-like character, three main waves of the development of SEZs in the world were identified: the first wave - the 90s of the XX century; the second wave – the first decade of the 21st century; the third wave – the second half of the second decade of the 21st century. It was established that the development of SEZs in the world is characterized by significant national and macro-regional asymmetries and disproportions. SEZs are developing most actively in developing countries. The countries of the specified group account for 88.6% of the total number of SEZs created in the world, 95.1% - SEZs in the world that are in the process of development, 99% of SEZs that are planned to be created in the world. It was determined that in the group of developing countries, Asia is the macro-region where SEZs are most actively developing.Asia accounts for 75.2% of the total number of SEZs created in the world or almost 85% of SEZs created in developing countries; 78% of the total number of SEZs under development in the world, or 82.3% of SEZs under development in developing countries; almost 83% of the total number of SEZs planned to be established in the world, or 83.5% of the total number of SEZs planned to be established in developing countries. Asia as a macro-region is characterized by significant asymmetries in SEZ development. The most active development of SEZ is observed in the countries of East Asia. Thus, East Asian countries account for 65.4% of the total number of SEZs operating in Asian countries or 49.1% of the total number of SEZs operating in the world. The largest centers of SEZ development are China and India. The area of most SEZs operating in the world in 2018 varied between 100.1 and 500 hectares. Almost 2/3 of the SEZs operating in the world in 2018 can be identified as multi-sector SEZs or SEZs without specialization. It was determined that on a global scale SEZs prove their effectiveness, the activity of SEZs in different countries of the world, even in individual regions of the same country, is characterized by significant differences in the levels of efficiency. Successful development of SEZs takes place when governments apply a strategic approach to the formation of policy frameworks, SEZ development programs, take into account competitive advantages and opportunities of the space where SEZs are created, take into account the requirements of sustainable development, and implement a set of measures aimed at developing SEZ connections with all branches of the national economy, etc.