The evolution of free economic zones and the recent development of cross-national growth zones

The free economic zone (FEZ) has taken on diverse forms and functions in regional and local economic integration and development within and across countries in the increasingly interconnected global economy. The literature on FEZs has tended to focus narrowly on the economic characteristics and roles of export processing zones (EPZs) in developing countries. In this paper, I develop a general model of the evolution of the generic FEZ, of which the EPZ is but one functional and spatial variant. This model is illustrated through a historical typology that captures the functional dimensions and temporal stages of evolving FEZs in many countries. Related to the evolution of FEZs is the emergence of new cross-national growth zones that stretch over the contiguous or adjacent border areas of a number of Asia-Pacific countries. A careful examination of the comparative evidence on selected intra- and cross-national zones lends credence to the model. Lastly, I draw tentative conclusions and theoretical implications about the formation and evolution of both intra-national FEZs and cross-national growth zones, and raise a number of issues and questions for future comprative research.