Export Processing Zones (EPZs) are about thirty years old now (ILO and UNCTC. 1988). Their effects and influence on third world economic development and on international industrial restructuring have been criticised by different literatures. I wish to combine my practical experience of working in Shenzen Special Economic Zone for four years, with research to compare four EPZs’ development in four East Asian countries and area: Massan Zone in Korea, Kaohsiung Zone in Thailand, Shenzen Zone in China and Lat Krabang Zone in Thailand. This intended to explore the effect of EPZs on the economic development of those countries, and to provide a series of comparative data (especially on the zone of China about which there is little information).

Export Processing Zones (EPZs) are about thirty years old now (ILO and UNCTC. 1988). Their effects and influence on third world economic development and on international industrial restructuring have been criticised by different literatures. I wish to combine my practical experience of working in Shenzen Special Economic Zone for four years, with research to compare four EPZs’ development in four East Asian countries and area: Massan Zone in Korea, Kaohsiung Zone in Thailand, Shenzen Zone in China and Lat Krabang Zone in Thailand. This intended to explore the effect of EPZs on the economic development of those countries, and to provide a series of comparative data (especially on the zone of China about which there is little information).

<p>I denna uppsats undersöker vi Export Processing Zones (EPZ) roll i ett lands ekonomiska utveckling, exemplifierat med Mexico. Fokus för uppsatsen är centrerat kring de bakåtriktade länkeffekter som förväntas uppstå som en effekt av ett EPZ-program. Fenomenet längs den mexikansk-amerikanska gränsen kan sägas ha flera orsaker, men grundas i tillgången på billig arbetskraft samt närhet till världens enskilt största konsumentmarknad. Uppsatsen visar på ett minskat FDI-inflöde, ökad sysselsättning, begränsad teknologiöverföring samt mest jobbspecifik kunskapsöverföring. Eftersom få lokala eller inhemska underleverantörer kontrakteras av EPZ-företagen minimeras länkbildningen. De flesta ekonomiska vinster av zonen noteras i form av fler arbetstillfällen. Resultaten visar att även fast Mexico förlorat sina komparativa fördelar inom arbetsintensiv tillverkning i jämförelse med andra länder har man inte lyckats få ett motsvarande skift mot en mer kapitalintensiv produktion. Detta kan till stor del sägas bero på hur staten har hanterat zonen, bland annat med avseende på utländskt ägande.</p>

I denna uppsats undersöker vi Export Processing Zones (EPZ) roll i ett lands ekonomiska utveckling, exemplifierat med Mexico. Fokus för uppsatsen är centrerat kring de bakåtriktade länkeffekter som förväntas uppstå som en effekt av ett EPZ-program. Fenomenet längs den mexikansk-amerikanska gränsen kan sägas ha flera orsaker, men grundas i tillgången på billig arbetskraft samt närhet till världens enskilt största konsumentmarknad. Uppsatsen visar på ett minskat FDI-inflöde, ökad sysselsättning, begränsad teknologiöverföring samt mest jobbspecifik kunskapsöverföring. Eftersom få lokala eller inhemska underleverantörer kontrakteras av EPZ-företagen minimeras länkbildningen. De flesta ekonomiska vinster av zonen noteras i form av fler arbetstillfällen. Resultaten visar att även fast Mexico förlorat sina komparativa fördelar inom arbetsintensiv tillverkning i jämförelse med andra länder har man inte lyckats få ett motsvarande skift mot en mer kapitalintensiv produktion. Detta kan till stor del sägas bero på hur staten har hanterat zonen, bland annat med avseende på utländskt ägande.

Abstract In the theory of Economics, investment can bring about Multiplier Effect to the whole GNP, no matter in employment, national income, and even economic growth rate, with an uprising influence. Therefore, every country in the world that hopes to develop economy will do all the best it can to attract investment in order to promote economic prosperity. So, establishing an Export Processing Zone (EPZ) is one of the most used ways when the developing countries want to develop economy. Taiwan has set up its EPZs for more than 41 years. The EPZs have played an important role in the national economic development, have laid down an exemplary foundation for Taiwan¡¦s export processing industries, and have written down a footnote of an ideal model in Taiwan¡¦s economic miracle. But due to the changes in economic situations both domestically and internationally, the magnet effect of mainland China¡¦s so-called ¡¨World Factory¡¨ and the establishment of Special Economic Zones in many countries around the world, the investment environments of export processing zones in Taiwan have all suffered a hardship gradually and the competition of attracting investment has become more fiercely from day to day. Luckily enough, the in-zone enterprises have continuously transferred the industrial structure to cope with the industry¡¦s economic changes from the traditional industry¡¦s labor-intensive pattern to the industry cluster in capital, technology and knowledge-intensive patterns. Also, the governments have changed in systems and adjusted the functions constantly so that the enterprises can keep growing and sustain their operations. The paper collected the related plans, documents and secondary data of EPZs¡¦development, regional industrial development, Ping-tung county¡¦s industrial development and the current situations of PEPZ, and then makes the conclusions and analyses, In addition, the paper analyzes the strengths and weaknesses, possible opportunities and threats of inside and outside of the PEPZ by SWOT analysis, and investigated the non-engaged investors by face-to-face interviews about the reasons that they don¡¦t invest in PEPZ for the reference of making the recruiting strategies, and then made questionnaires to the representatives of industries, government officials and scholars in universities by Delphi Method, so as to obtain the primary data and collect and analyze them. The paper quoted some of the researches in regional advantages of industrial models from Professor Wu Chi-hua and Dr. Tsai Jin-kun to analyze the industrial advantages of Ping-tung county, Kaohsiung city and Kaohsiung county, and all of the Export Processing Zones. By making references from Input-Output Tables of the Executive Yuan and the nation¡¦s important industries in the coming ten years, the paper sifted out the industries that PEPZ intends to recruit in the future. And then, through the Delphi Method of expert¡¦s results inspections, the paper made a conclusion that the important industries that PEPZ can recruit includes metal products, energy industry, electronics and its components, automobile and auto-parts, machinery & equipments. In the end, the paper studied the recruiting strategies and practical ways of attracting investment through the theory of SWOT to analyze the recruiting competitiveness of PEPZ. The paper obtained the matrix of SWOT strategic analysis, and drew up SO¡]strength-opportunity¡^strategies, WO(weakness-opportunity) strategies, ST(strength-threat) strategies and WT(weakness-threat) strategies after the expert¡¦s inspections. There are 13 strategies and practical ways .

Typescript. / Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-185) / Microfiche. / xi, 185 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

This research explores the relationship between economic transformations, as part of the process of globalization of the economy in Latin America and the restructuring of urban space. The study reviews two main bodies of the literature. The first one, concerned with the economic evolution of the region in the last two decades especially the trend toward export promotion. The second is related to the changes in the urbanization process arising form globalization. Drawing from these sources, a new model for the Globalized Latin American City is introduced. The empirical part of the research focuses on the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador (MASS), El Salvador, particularly in the relationship between the establishment of new Export Processing Zones (EPZs) and the emergence of new post suburban residential developments occurring nearby, thirty kilometers away from the city. A random sample household survey was conducted in two sites in order to get information about the processes of spatial movement of these populations and their hypothetical direct connection with the EPZs. The results contrast with the theoretical assumptions of the model. There is no evidence of strong direct connections between the neighborhoods and the EPZs. However, there is significant evidence that these linkages occur at a regional level, since the corridors where export-oriented industries have tended to locate appear to be increasingly connected to the metropolitan dynamic, as suppliers of work force and potential areas for new development. Therefore, economic globalization appears to act as a catalyst of a new pattern of urbanization, with profound social, administrative, and environmental consequences. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The economic construct within South Africa has been in a state of flux during the last decade. The challenge of meeting the demands placed on this economy by the leading industrialised developed economies, whilst developing human capacity that would meet these demands, is of great importance. Developing human capacity through training is regarded as the key building block in this endeavour. Cost implications associated with training are considered a major stumbling block for many organisations where bottom line margins are under continuous threat. Traditionally, many institutions regarded training as an unnecessary evil and the tendency was to spend as little money as possible on this variable overhead. This short-sighted approach, operating within a political framework where the majority of the workers did not enjoy democratic institutions, compounded the training and skills dilemma facing South Africa. Since 1994 all South Africans have been afforded a new political dispensation. The newly elected government, in an attempt to redress past inadequacy, introduced various labour acts that would meet the development needs of that part of the population that was classified as previously disadvantaged. The Skills Development Act provides guidelines on training and development requirements within the various economic sectors, and is therefore of particular importance. This legislation, which implies that organisations spend a certain percentage of their payroll on training, places new financial demands and obligations on organisations, some of which cannot afford it. A positive alternative associated with training cost is the establishment of Export Processing Zones (EPZs). EPZs offer incentives to lure organisations into moving to a demarcated processing zone where relaxed labour practices are enjoyed, low taxes are paid and incentives for training their workforces are offered. In order to test the perception of employers regarding training incentives as a motivation to consider moving to EPZs, a questionnaire was sent to one hundred organisations. Quantitative and qualitative data was obtained by means of processing the responses to these questionnaires to establish the viability of and demand for the establishment of EPZs. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the development of an EPZ should become a part of the strategic initiative of the South African Department of Trade and Industry whilst ensuring support from other key stakeholders such as the Department of Labour, workers' unions and industrialists. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ekonomiese konstruk in Suid-Afrika was gedurende die afgelope dekade in 'n toestand van onsekerheid. Die uitdaging om aan die vereistes wat deur die toonaangewende ontwikkelde nywerheidsekonomieë afgedwing word te voldoen, terwyl die menslike kapasiteit terselfdertyd ontwikkel word om aan hierdie vereistes te voldoen, is uiters belangrik. Opleiding word beskou as 'n kern boublok in hierdie strewe om menslike kapasiteit te ontwikkel. Talle maatskappye beskou die koste implikasies wat met opleiding gepaard gaan as 'n reuse struikelblok. Baie instansies het opleiding in die verlede as 'n onnodige euwel beskou en daar was 'n neiging om so min as moontlik aan hierdie veranderlike oorhoofse koste te spandeer. Hierdie kortsigtige benadering het binne 'n politieke raamwerk fungeer waar die meerderheid werkers geen toegang tot demokratiese instellings gehad het nie. Dit het die opleidings- en vaardigheidsdilemma waarmee Suid-Afrika gekonfronteer word, vererger. Alle Suid-Afrikaners geniet egter sedert 1994 'n nuwe politieke bedeling. Ten einde te poog om vroeëre tekortkominge aan te spreek, het die nuut verkose regering verskeie arbeidswetgewings ingestel om aan die ontwikkelingsbehoeftes te voldoen van diegene wat geklassifiseer word as agtergeblewenes. Die Vaardigheidsontwikkelingswetgewing bied riglyne vir opleidings- en ontwikkelingsbehoeftes binne die verskeie ekonomiese sektore en is dus van besondere belang. Hierdie wetgewing bepaal dat 'n maatskappy 'n sekere persentasie van sy betaalrol moet spandeer aan opleiding. Dit plaas addisionele finansiële druk op maatskappye en sommige maatskappye kan dit net eenvoudig nie bekostig nie. Die daarstelling van 'n Uitvoer Verwerkingsone (UVS) is 'n positiewe alternatief wat met opleidingskoste geassosieer kan word. 'n UVS bied insentiewe aan maatskappye om hul te lok om na hierdie afgebakende gebied(e) te beweeg waar verslapte arbeidspraktyke geld, lae belastings betaal word en insentiewe aangebied word vir die opleiding van hul werkersmag. 'n Vraelys is aan een honderd maatskappye gestuur ten einde die persepsies van werkgewers ten opsigte van opleidingsintensiewe as motivering om na 'n UVS te beweeg te toets. Kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe data is bekom deur die verwerking van die antwoorde op die vraelys en daardeur die lewensvatbaarheid van en die behoefte aan die daarstelling van 'n UVS te bepaal. Gebaseer op die bevindinge van hierdie studie word daar aanbeveel dat die ontwikkeling van 'n UVS deel moet vorm van die strategiese inisiatief van die Suid-Afrikaanse Departement van Handel en Nywerheid terwyl die ondersteuning van ander sleutel belanghebbendes soos die Departement van Arbeid, werkersunies en nyweraars verseker word.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the quest to attract foreign investments which is seen as one way of alleviating poverty by creating employment opportunities and earning foreign currency many countries have implemented the EPZ regime. Though the concept remains the same throughout the world, it has adopted different names depending on the country. In Mexico the EPZ's are called the "Maquiladoras" and in Bulgaria EPZ's are called Free Trade Zones. No matter the differences in names the concept is principally the same: EPZ is an enclave which operates outside the normal economic framework of the country. At independence Namibia faced a high unemployment rate and poverty. In 1995 the Namibian government passed the EPZ Act in order to pave the way for the development of EPZ industrial parks. The need for passing the EPZ Act was necessitated by the acute unemployment rate which the country faced at the time, which had the potential to threaten the political stability the country enjoyed. Thus, amongst other policy instruments, the EPZ Act was passed with the principle objective of attracting the much needed foreign investments which would result in creation of the needed employment opportunities. The government set a very ambitious target for the EPZ regime; it was expected that by 1999 the EPZ regime would have created about 25 000 job opportunities. Thus, the anticipated number of job opportunities was quite frequently used as a justification for the massive investments provided for the development of infrastructures in the EPZ industrial parks and hefty subsidies which were extended to some EPZ companies. It is important to note that unlike other countries who adopted the location-based EPZ model, Namibia has adopted a flexible EPZ model implying that a company which acquires the EPZ status is free to locate or set-up its facility anywhere in the country. In 2003 a Malaysian textile company called Ramatex closed its operations in South Africa and relocated to Namibia. In terms of employment creation the EPZ reached its peak in 2004 when about 10 057 persons / individuals were actively employed in the EPZ companies. Ramatex accounted for about 80% of the total of 10 057 EPZ jobs. Since 2004 the number of jobs in the Namibian EPZ regime started to decline at an alarming rate; at the end of 2007 there were only 5 248 people employed by the EPZ companies. Many times Ramatex threatened to close its operations, citing decline in the demand of its products and low productivity, but after some closed-door negotiations the government initially managed to convince it to continue its operation. Regrettably the success of the Namibian government to convince Ramatex to continue with its operation in Namibia was short-lived, when in the first quarter of 2008; the inevitable closure of Ramatex became a reality. The closure of Ramatex has resulted in the retrenchment of about 3 000 people. The overall performance of the Namibian EPZ regime leaves a lot to be desired. The Namibian EPZ regime so far failed to attract enough investments to create the anticipated job opportunities and to increase the export of manufactured goods. On a positive note, EPZ regime compelled the authority to invest in infrastructures which it might otherwise not have invested in. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die soeke na 'n wyse om buitelandse beleggings te trek as een van die maniere om armoede te verlig deur die skepping van werksgeleenthede en die verkryging van buitelandse valuta, het baie lande die EPZ-regime geimplementeer. Hoewel die konsep dwarsdeur die wereld dieselfde bly, het dit verskillende name in verskillende lande. In Meksiko word dit die UMaquiladoras' genoem en in Bulgarye is dit Vryehandelsones. Ongeag wat dit genoem word , bly die konsep in wese dieselfde: EPZ is 'n enklave wat buite die normale ekonomiese raamwerk van die land opereer. Toe Namibia onafhanklik geword het, het die land gebuk gegaan onder 'n hoe werkloosheidskoers en armoede. In 1995 het die Namibiese regering die Wet op EPZ uitgevaardig om ruimte te skep vir die ontwikkeling van EPZ-nywerheidsparke. Die akute werkloosheidskoers van die land op daardie tydstip het dit noodsaaklik gemaak dat hierdie wet uitgevaardig word, aangesien die werkloosheid potensieel die politieke stabiliteit in die land kon bedreig. As deel van ander politieke instrumente is die Wet op EPZ dus uitgevaardig, met as hoofdoelwit die 10k van broodnodige buitelandse beleggings wat sou lei tot die skepping van die ewe nodige werksgeleenthede. Die regering het 'n baie ambisieuse doelwit vir die EPZregime gestel; dit sou na verwagting teen 1999 nagenoeg 25 000 werksgeleenthede skep. Die verwagte getal werksgeleenthede is dus dikwels gebruik as regverdiging vir die massiewe beleggings wat voorsien is vir die ontwikkeling van die infrastrukture in die EPZ nywerheidsparke asook die groot subsidies toegestaan aan sommige EPZ-maatskappye. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat, anders as ander lande waar die EPZ-model plekgebonde was, Namibia 'n buigsame EPZ-model aanvaar het. Dit het geimpliseer dat 'n maatskappy wat EPZ-status verwerf het, sy fasiliteit enige plek in die land kon vestig. 'n Maleisiese tekstielmaatskappy met die naam Ramatex het in 2003 sy bedryf in Suid Afrika toegemaak en na Namibie verhuis. Sover dit die skepping van werksgeleenthede aangaan, het die EPZ in Namibie in 2004 sy hoogtepunt bereik, toe ongeveer 10 057 persone / individue aktief in diens van die EPZ-maatskappye was. Ramatex het ongeveer 80% van die totale 10057 EPZ-werksgeleenthede voorsien. Sedert 2004 het die getal werksgeleenthede in die Namibiese EPZ-regime teen 'n ontstellende koers afgeneem, sodat daar teen die einde van 2007 net 5248 mense in diens van die EPZ-maatskappye was. Ramatex het by verskeie geleenthede gedreig om sy bedrywighede te sluit weens die afname in die vraag na sy produkte en lae produktiwiteit, maar na onderhandelinge agter geslote deure het die regering aanvanklik daarin geslaag om Ramatex te oortuig om voort te gaan. Hierdie sukses van die Namibiese regering was ongelukkig van korte duur, aangesien die onafwendbare sluiting van Ramatex in die eerste kwartaal van 2008 werklikheid geword het. Die gevolg was die afdanking van ongeveer 3 000 mense. Die oorkoepelende prestasie van die Namibiese EPZ-regime is ver van bevredigend. Hierdie regime het tot nou toe nie daarin geslaag om genoeg beleggings te lok om die verwagte werksgeleenthede te skep en die uitvoer van vervaardigde produkte te verhoog nie. Aan die positiewe kant het die EPZ-regime die owerheid gedwing om te bele in infrastrukture waarin hulle andersins nie sou bele het nie.

In Turkey, the trade regime has been liberalized to some extent after Resolutions of 24 January 1980, and Turkey started to implement export-led trade strategies. As a part of these policy instruments, the Free Zones Law was published in the Official Gazette in 1985. Following various amendments in the Law, objectives of free zones have been defined as &ldquo / promoting export-oriented investment and production, accelerating the entry of foreign investment and technology, directing enterprises to export and improving international trade&rdquo / . Within this context, the purpose of this study is to explore the economic impacts of free zones and analyze the free zone firms&rsquo / perceptions on the success of free zones by assessing to what extent the establishment objectives of the free zones in Turkey have been realized.