Language:
English
Pages:
Online-Ressource (1 online resource (114 p.))
Edition:
Online-Ausg. World Bank E-Library Archive
Parallel Title:
Madani, Dorsati A Review of the Role and Impact of Export Processing Zones
Keywords:
Banks and Banking Reform
;
Capital Goods
;
Debt Markets
;
Economic Theory and Research
;
Emerging Markets
;
Environment
;
Environment
;
Environmental
;
Environmental Economics and Policies
;
Environmental Issues
;
Finance and Financial Sector Development
;
Financial Literacy
;
Imports
;
Incentives
;
Income
;
International Economics & Trade
;
Investment
;
Investments
;
Knowledge
;
Labor
;
Labor Markets
;
Labor Policies
;
Macroeconomics and Economic Growth
;
Markets
;
Policy Instruments
;
Private Sector Development
;
Production
;
Public Sector Development
;
Revenue
;
Social Protections and Labor
;
Subsidies
;
Technology
;
Trade
;
Trade Policy
;
Unemployment
;
Wages
;
Banks and Banking Reform
;
Capital Goods
;
Debt Markets
;
Economic Theory and Research
;
Emerging Markets
;
Environment
;
Environment
;
Environmental
;
Environmental Economics and Policies
;
Environmental Issues
;
Finance and Financial Sector Development
;
Financial Literacy
;
Imports
;
Incentives
;
Income
;
International Economics & Trade
;
Investment
;
Investments
;
Knowledge
;
Labor
;
Labor Markets
;
Labor Policies
;
Macroeconomics and Economic Growth
;
Markets
;
Policy Instruments
;
Private Sector Development
;
Production
;
Public Sector Development
;
Revenue
;
Social Protections and Labor
;
Subsidies
;
Technology
;
Trade
;
Trade Policy
;
Unemployment
;
Wages
Abstract:
As instruments for encouraging economic development, export processing zones have only limited usefulness. A better policy choice is general liberalization of a country's economy. - Traditional export processing zones are fenced-in industrial estates specializing in manufacturing for exports. Modern ones have more flexible rules, such as permitting more liberal domestic sales. They provide a free-trade and liberal regulatory environment for the firms involved. Their primary goals: to provide foreign exchange earnings by promoting nontraditional exports, to provide jobs and create income, and to attract foreign direct investment and attendant technology transfer and knowledge spillover. Domestic, international, or joint venture firms operating in export processing zones typically benefit from reduced red tape, flexible labor laws, generous long-term tax holidays and concessions, above-average communications services and infrastructure (and often subsidized utilities and rental rates), and unlimited duty-free imports of raw and intermediate inputs and capital goods needed for production. In this review of experience, Madani concludes that export processing zones have limited applications; the better policy choice is to liberalize a country's entire economy. Under certain conditions - including appropriate setup and good management - export processing zones can play a dynamic role in a country's development, but only as a transitional step in an integrated movement toward general liberalization of the economy (with revisions as national economic conditions change). The World Bank, writes Madani, should be cautious about supporting export processing zone projects, doing so only on a case-by-case basis, only with expert guidance, and only as part of a general reform package. It should not support isolated export processing zone projects in unreformed or postreform economies (in the last case they might encourage backsliding on trade policy). In general, if a policy is good for the economy as a whole, it is likely to be good for an export processing zone. Sound policy will encourage: · Sound, stable monetary and fiscal policies, clear private property and investment laws, and a business-friendly economic environment. · Moderate, simplified (but not overfriendly) corporate tax schedules, and generally liberal tariffs and other trade taxes. · Private development and management of export processing zones and their infrastructure and unsubsidized utilities. · Labor laws that are business-friendly but do not abuse workers' safety and labor rights. · A better understanding of the impact of industrial refuse on the quality of air, soil, water, and human health. This paper - a product of Trade, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to understand the impact of trade policy and trade policy tools on development. The author may be contacted at dmadaniworldbank.org
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