What draws investment to special economic zones? Lessons from developing countries
通过比较非洲、亚洲和拉丁美洲的经济特区，发现市场准入、政治稳定和低劳动力成本是吸引外资的关键，而良好的基础设施和区位比财政激励更有效。
Special economic zones (SEZs) are a popular policy tool for the promotion of economic development. However, questions remain about their economic contribution and about what aspects of SEZ policies are most relevant to investors. This article sheds light on these issues by comparing SEZs across Africa, Asia and Latin America. We find that while investment decisions by foreign companies are driven by market access, political stability and low labour costs, adequate SEZ policies facilitate the attraction of investment. A good industrial infrastructure together with a strategic location and service provision within the zones draw investment. Fiscal incentives, by contrast, have a limited influence on investment decisions.