Call for Book Chapters | 2024

Those wishing to propose a collective volume should prepare a 500 words abstract.
The proposal must seek to address the aims and scopes of the book series.

Normally, two collective volumes are published each year, in the months of April/May and November/December.

Those wishing to propose a monographic volume should prepare a 500 words abstract and a provisional index.

Proposals must be sent to the following address:

E-mail: geographiesofanthropocene@gmail.com



Call for Book Chapters

Special Economic Zones: Challenges and Opportunities for Territorial Development

 

Edited by
Michele Pigliucci
(Università degli Studi di Roma “Link”)

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite submissions for book chapters in the “Geographies of the Anthropocene” series. This volume (8, n. 1, 2025), titled “Special Economic Zones: Challenges and Opportunities for Territorial Development” (Language: English), will be edited by Michele Pigliucci (Università degli Studi “Link”, Roma).

Proposal Deadline: December 15, 2024

Scope:
Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are geographically defined areas where governments establish special administrative, fiscal, or bureaucratic frameworks to facilitate industrial activity and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). SEZs are increasingly recognized as effective tools for enhancing the attractiveness of underdeveloped regions by fostering investment and boosting employment.

One of the main advantages of SEZs is that they can improve competitiveness without significant cost to the country, addressing the challenges of regions that may lack appeal due to geographical or historical disadvantages. Today, there are thousands of SEZs worldwide, particularly in Asia, which have proven valuable in achieving regional development goals. There are various types of SEZs, differing in scope, governance models, territorial integration, and the nature of their benefits.

However, SEZs are not a guaranteed solution for regional development. Their success depends on multiple factors, including infrastructure planning, the choice and duration of incentives, and the precise identification of targeted areas. Poorly planned SEZs can potentially diminish the attractiveness of the surrounding areas and may even intensify internal disparities.

The establishment of SEZs often creates a hierarchy between “first-tier” areas, which benefit directly from SEZ incentives, and “second-tier” surrounding areas, which risk losing competitiveness. Conversely, when effectively designed and implemented, SEZs can greatly enhance regional competitiveness and serve as a rapidly growing tool for the development of lagging regions.

This volume seeks to gather theoretical and practical insights into the effectiveness of SEZs for territorial development. We invite contributions that explore empirical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives on how different SEZ structures lead to varied development outcomes. Authors are encouraged to consider case studies that identify key challenges in SEZ design and demonstrate how SEZs can create unique opportunities for growth.

The book welcomes contributions from multiple disciplines, including specific case-study analyses.

Topics of Interest
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Governance models of SEZs
  • Territorial development and SEZs
  • SEZ-related inter-territorial conflicts
  • Territorial Impact Assessment of SEZs
  • Case studies on successful and unsuccessful SEZs
  • Metrics and performance indicators for SEZ effectiveness
  • Environmental and social sustainability in SEZs
  • Comparative analysis of SEZ types across regions and countries
  • Innovation and technology transfer in SEZs
  • Challenges and best practices in SEZ policy design
  • Place-evidence and territorialisation of SEZ

Keywords: Special Economic Zones, economic geography, regional policy, regional development

 

Bibliography

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Adam A. Ambroziak, Cristopher A. Hartwell (2018). «The impact of investments in special economic zones on regional development: the case of Poland», Regional studies, 52 (10), pp. 1322-1331.

Aggarwal, A. (2012). Social and Economic Impact of SEZs in India. Oxford University Press.

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––– (2007) Impact of Special Economic Zones on Employment, Poverty and Human Development, Working Paper, No. 194, New Delhi, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, 2007.

Arbolino, R., Lantz, T. L., & Napolitano, O. (2023). «Assessing the impact of special economic zones on regional growth through a comparison among EU countries», Regional Studies, 57(6), 1069-1083.

BEKBERGENEVA D.E., SEMENOV A.P. (2024). «Risks in the formation of special economic zones of Russia», Regional Economics: Theory and Practice, 10 (529), pp.1844-1854.

Brussevich, M. (2024). «The socioeconomic impact of special economic zones: Evidence from cambodia», The World Economy, 47(1), 362-387.

Ciżkowicz P., Ciżkowic-Pękała M., Pękała P., Rzońca A. (2015). The effects of special economic zones on employment and investment: spatial panel modelling perspective, Warsaw, Economic Institute.

Dubinina, E. (2023). «Impact of special economic zones on domestic market: evidence from Russia», Post-Communist Economies, 35(1), 82-99.

Farole T. (2011). «Special Economic Zones: What Have We Learned?», World Bank – Economic Premise, Washington, The World Bank, 2011, pp. 1-5.

Farole, T., & Akinci, G. (2011). Special Economic Zones: Progress, Emerging Challenges, and Future Directions. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Fei D. (2017). «Worlding developmentalism: China’s Economic Zones within and beyond its border», Journal of International Development, 29, 2017, pp. 825-850.

Ferrara, A. R., Nisticò, R., & Prota, F. (2022). «Zone Economiche Speciali: potenzialità e limiti dello strumento», Rivista economica del Mezzogiorno, 36(4), 875-902.

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Liptáka F., Klasová S., Ková V. (2015). «Special Economic Zone Constitution According to Cluster Analysis», Procedia Economics and Finance, 27, pp. 186-193.

Litwack J.M., Qian Y. (1998). «Balanced or Unbalanced Development: Special Economic Zones as Catalysts for Transition», Journal of Comparative Economics, 26, 1998, pp. 117–141.

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Moberg, L. (2015). «The Political Economy of Special Economic Zones», Journal of Institutional Economics, 11(1), 167-190.

Mugano, G. (2021). «Special Economic Zones: Showcasing Success and Failures», in Special Economic Zones: Economic Development in Africa (pp. 181-204). Cham: Springer International Publishing

Nazarczuk J.M., Umiński S. (2018). «The geography of openness to foreign trade in Poland: The role of special economic zones and foreign-owned entities», Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series, 39(39), 2018, pp. 97-111.

Pigliucci, M. (2019). Zone economiche speciali nel Mezzogiorno d’Italia, Nuova Cultura, Roma.

Prezioso M. (ed.) (2020). Territorial Impact Assessment of national and regional territorial cohesion in Italy. Place evidence and policy orientations towards European Green Deal, Bologna, Pàtron editore.

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Shankar G. (2007). «Negative Aspects of Special Economic Zones in China», Economic and Political Weekly, 42(17), 2007, pp. 1492-1494.

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Shukurova, F. (2024). «The role of Special Economic Zones in investment attractiveness», Development and innovations in science, 3(4), 92-95.

Sinenko O., Mayburov I. (2017). «Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Special Economic Zones and Their Influence on the Development of Territories», International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 7(1), 2017, pp. 115-122.

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Tang, K. (2023). «The political economy of special economic zones: the cases of Ethiopia and Vietnam», Review of International Political Economy, 30(5), 1957-1983.

UNCTAD (2019). World Investment Report 2019: Special Economic Zones. United Nations.

Valiev, O. S. U., & Umrzoqov, J. B. U. (2024). «The role of Free Economic Zones (FEZs) in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI): the case of South Korea», Oriental renaissance: Innovative, educational, natural and social sciences, 4(5), 226-234.

Vats A., Declerq M., Clements S., Special Economic Zones as a tool for economic development, New York, Oliver Wyman, 2018.

Wang, J. (2013). «The Economic Impact of Special Economic Zones: Evidence from Chinese Municipalities», Journal of Development Economics, 101, 133-147.

Yeung, Y. M., Lee, J., & Kee, G. (2009). «China’s Special Economic Zones at 30», Eurasian Geography and Economics, 50(2), 222-240.

Zeng, D. Z. (2015). «Global experiences with special economic zones: Focus on China and Africa«», World Bank policy Research working paper, (7240).

Ziedina D., Pelse M. (2019). «Special Economic Zone as innovation booster in less developed regions», Economic Science for Rural Development Conference Proceedings, pp. 272-278.

 

 Important dates:

December 15, 2024: Book Chapter Proposal deadline;

December 31, 2024: Acceptance/Rejection Notification; 

February 15, 2025: Full Chapter Submission;

March 15, 2025: Review notification;

April 15, 2025: Final version chapter submission;

May/June 2025: Final e-book version available.

 

Submission Procedure: 

Interested authors should submit their proposals (max 500 words) by December 15, 2024, explaining the main topic and the objectives of the chapter. 

The manuscript proposals (Word or PDF) must be sent to the following address: geographiesofanthropocene@gmail.com 

Acceptance/Rejection notification will be sent to the authors by December 31, 2024. After the acceptance notification, authors should submit full chapters by February 15, 2025 formatting their manuscripts following the Editor’s guidelines. 

The manuscript word count must be between 4500 – 6000 words. This includes tables, illustrations, references, etc. All submissions will be reviewed in a double-blind manner. 

Download Call for Book Chapters

 

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