IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/streco/v72y2025icp456-466.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Imitation or learning: Exploring the drivers of Special economic zones

Author

Listed:
  • Arbolino, Roberta
  • Boffardi, Raffaele
  • Bonasia, Mariangela
  • Capasso, Salvatore
  • De Simone, Luisa

Abstract

This paper aims to explore how European governments approach the diffusion of Special Economic Zones besides the other types of Incentive Zones (Free Trade Zones, Free Zones and Free Ports) by examining whether they engage in comprehensive planning and programming or simply replicate policies based on the reputation of early adopters. The authors propose two reasons for adopting industrial policies: imitation, which involves replicating actions from other countries based on their economic or institutional status, and innovation, which entails adopting policies after carefully analysing their specific impacts. Results show that policymakers approach Incentive Zones establishment in a non-optimal way, that is, through a blind replication of policies already implemented in other countries showing a robust economic performance and a sound institutional background.

Suggested Citation

  • Arbolino, Roberta & Boffardi, Raffaele & Bonasia, Mariangela & Capasso, Salvatore & De Simone, Luisa, 2025. "Imitation or learning: Exploring the drivers of Special economic zones," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 456-466.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:72:y:2025:i:c:p:456-466
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2024.11.001
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0954349X24001607
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.strueco.2024.11.001?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tsebelis, George, 1999. "Veto Players and Law Production in Parliamentary Democracies: An Empirical Analysis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 93(3), pages 591-608, September.
    2. George Tsebelis, 2011. "Veto Player Theory and Policy Change: An Introduction," Studies in Public Choice, in: Thomas König & Marc Debus & George Tsebelis (ed.), Reform Processes and Policy Change, edition 1, chapter 0, pages 3-18, Springer.
    3. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Tobias Ketterer, 2020. "Institutional change and the development of lagging regions in Europe," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(7), pages 974-986, July.
    4. Andr�s Rodr�guez-Pose & Enrique Garcilazo, 2015. "Quality of Government and the Returns of Investment: Examining the Impact of Cohesion Expenditure in European Regions," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(8), pages 1274-1290, August.
    5. Mark Evans, 2009. "Policy transfer in critical perspective," Policy Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 243-268.
    6. Rajneesh Narula & James X. Zhan, . "Using special economic zones to facilitate development: policy implications," UNCTAD Transnational Corporations Journal, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.
    7. Wen, Jun & Hao, Yu & Feng, Gen-Fu & Chang, Chun-Ping, 2016. "Does government ideology influence environmental performance? Evidence based on a new dataset," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 232-246.
    8. Bennett, Colin J., 1991. "What Is Policy Convergence and What Causes It?," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 21(2), pages 215-233, April.
    9. Craig Volden, 2006. "States as Policy Laboratories: Emulating Success in the Children's Health Insurance Program," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 50(2), pages 294-312, April.
    10. D. Scott Bennett & Allan C. Stam, 2000. "Eugene : A conceptual manual," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 179-204, March.
    11. Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose & Federico Bartalucci & Susanne A. Frick & Amelia U. Santos‐Paulino & Richard Bolwijn, 2022. "The challenge of developing special economic zones in Africa: Evidence and lessons learnt," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(2), pages 456-481, April.
    12. Cielik, Andrzej & Ryan, Michael, 2005. "Location Determinants of Japanese Multinationals in Poland: Do Special Economic Zones Really Matter for Investment Decisions?," Journal of Economic Integration, Center for Economic Integration, Sejong University, vol. 20, pages 475-496.
    13. Azizur Rahman Khan, 2007. "Growth, employment and poverty: An analysis of the vital nexus based on some recent UNDP and ILO/SIDA studies," Working Papers 49, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
    14. Berry, William D. & Baybeck, Brady, 2005. "Using Geographic Information Systems to Study Interstate Competition," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 99(4), pages 505-519, November.
    15. Fabrizio Gilardi & Charles R. Shipan & Bruno Wüest, 2021. "Policy Diffusion: The Issue‐Definition Stage," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 65(1), pages 21-35, January.
    16. Meseguer, Covadonga, 2006. "Learning and economic policy choices," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 156-178, March.
    17. Charles R. Shipan & Craig Volden, 2008. "The Mechanisms of Policy Diffusion," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 52(4), pages 840-857, October.
    18. Ronald B. Davies & Arman Mazhikeyev, 2019. "The Impact of Special Economic Zones on Exporting Behavior," Review of Economic Analysis, Digital Initiatives at the University of Waterloo Library, vol. 11(1), pages 145-174, July.
    19. Caselli, Francesca & Reynaud, Julien, 2020. "Do fiscal rules cause better fiscal balances? A new instrumental variable strategy," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    20. Arbolino, Roberta & Carlucci, Fabio & Cirà, Andrea & De Simone, Luisa & Ioppolo, Giuseppe & Yigitcanlar, Tan, 2018. "Factors affecting transport privatization: An empirical analysis of the EU," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 149-160.
    21. Seiferling, Mike, 2020. "Fiscal deficits and executive planning horizons," Political Science Research and Methods, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(2), pages 329-343, April.
    22. Fabrizio Gilardi, 2010. "Who Learns from What in Policy Diffusion Processes?," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(3), pages 650-666, July.
    23. David Marsh & J.C. Sharman, 2009. "Policy diffusion and policy transfer," Policy Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(3), pages 269-288.
    24. Mihály Fazekas & Ágnes Czibik, 2021. "Measuring regional quality of government: the public spending quality index based on government contracting data," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(8), pages 1459-1472, August.
    25. Dan Andrews & Chiara Criscuolo & Peter N. Gal, 2016. "The Best versus the Rest: The Global Productivity Slowdown, Divergence across Firms and the Role of Public Policy," OECD Productivity Working Papers 5, OECD Publishing.
    26. Jaroslaw Michal Nazarczuk & Anna Krajewska, 2018. "Local determinants of foreign direct investment in Poland: the role of relative distance," Equilibrium. Quarterly Journal of Economics and Economic Policy, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(1), pages 73-88, March.
    27. Karl Aiginger & Dani Rodrik, 2020. "Rebirth of Industrial Policy and an Agenda for the Twenty-First Century," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 189-207, June.
    28. Simon Fink, 2013. "Policy Convergence with or without the European Union: The Interaction of Policy Success, EU Membership and Policy Convergence," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 631-648, July.
    29. Nazarczuk Jarosław M. & Umiński Stanisław, 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, Sciendo, vol. 39(39), pages 97-111, March.
    30. Maria K. Boutchkova & William L. Megginson, 2000. "Privatization and the Rise of Global Capital Markets," Financial Management, Financial Management Association, vol. 29(4), Winter.
    31. Adam A. Ambroziak & Christopher A. Hartwell, 2018. "The impact of investments in special economic zones on regional development: the case of Poland," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(10), pages 1322-1331, October.
    32. Simmons, Beth A. & Elkins, Zachary, 2004. "The Globalization of Liberalization: Policy Diffusion in the International Political Economy," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 98(1), pages 171-189, February.
    33. Berry, Frances Stokes & Berry, William D., 1990. "State Lottery Adoptions as Policy Innovations: An Event History Analysis," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 84(2), pages 395-415, June.
    34. Bergman, U. Michael & Hutchison, Michael M. & Jensen, Svend E. Hougaard, 2016. "Promoting sustainable public finances in the European Union: The role of fiscal rules and government efficiency," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 1-19.
    35. Enrico Botta & Tomasz Koźluk, 2014. "Measuring Environmental Policy Stringency in OECD Countries: A Composite Index Approach," OECD Economics Department Working Papers 1177, OECD Publishing.
    36. Holzinger, Katharina & Knill, Christoph & Sommerer, Thomas, 2008. "Environmental Policy Convergence: The Impact of International Harmonization, Transnational Communication, and Regulatory Competition," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 62(4), pages 553-587, October.
    37. Nicholas Charron & Victor Lapuente & Paola Annoni, 2019. "Measuring quality of government in EU regions across space and time," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 98(5), pages 1925-1953, October.
    38. Boix, Carles, 1997. "Privatizing the Public Business Sector in the Eighties: Economic Performance, Partisan Responses and Divided Governments," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 27(4), pages 473-496, October.
    39. Baldwin, Elizabeth & Carley, Sanya & Nicholson-Crotty, Sean, 2019. "Why do countries emulate each others’ policies? A global study of renewable energy policy diffusion," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 29-45.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Arbolino, R. & Boffardi, R. & De Simone, L. & Ioppolo, G. & Lopes, A., 2024. "Circular economy convergence across European Union: Evidence on the role policy diffusion and domestic mechanisms," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 96(C).
    2. Evan M. Mistur & John Wagner Givens & Daniel C. Matisoff, 2023. "Contagious COVID‐19 policies: Policy diffusion during times of crisis," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 40(1), pages 36-62, January.
    3. Arbolino, Roberta & Carlucci, Fabio & Cirà, Andrea & De Simone, Luisa & Ioppolo, Giuseppe & Yigitcanlar, Tan, 2018. "Factors affecting transport privatization: An empirical analysis of the EU," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 149-160.
    4. Simon Fink, 2013. "Policy Convergence with or without the European Union: The Interaction of Policy Success, EU Membership and Policy Convergence," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(4), pages 631-648, July.
    5. Felix Strebel & Thomas Widmer, 2012. "Visibility and facticity in policy diffusion: going beyond the prevailing binarity," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 45(4), pages 385-398, December.
    6. Fabrizio Gilardi, 2010. "Who Learns from What in Policy Diffusion Processes?," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(3), pages 650-666, July.
    7. Torben Heinze, 2011. "Mechanism-Based Thinking on Policy Diffusion. A Review of Current Approaches in Political Science," KFG Working Papers p0034, Free University Berlin.
    8. Nico Heiden & Felix Strebel, 2012. "What about non-diffusion? The effect of competitiveness in policy-comparative diffusion research," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 45(4), pages 345-358, December.
    9. Schaffer, Lena Maria & Bernauer, Thomas, 2014. "Explaining government choices for promoting renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 15-27.
    10. Brian Y. An & Adam Butz & Min-Kyeong Cha & Joshua L. Mitchell, 2023. "Following neighbors or regional leaders? Unpacking the effect of geographic proximity in local climate policy diffusion," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 56(4), pages 825-868, December.
    11. Gregor Schwerhoff, 2013. "Leadership and International Climate Cooperation," Working Papers 2013.97, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    12. Gregor Schwerhoff, 2016. "The economics of leadership in climate change mitigation," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 16(2), pages 196-214, March.
    13. Jorge Chica‐Olmo & Marina Checa‐Olivas, 2021. "Spatial impact of factors influencing the achievement of the Europa2020 employment targets," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 100(3), pages 633-649, June.
    14. Marlene Kammerer & Chandreyee Namhata, 2018. "What drives the adoption of climate change mitigation policy? A dynamic network approach to policy diffusion," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 51(4), pages 477-513, December.
    15. Fink, Simon & Ruffing, Eva, 2020. "Learning in iterated consultation procedures – The example of the German electricity grid demand planning," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    16. Zhang, Kaiwen & Tan, Rong, 2024. "Land policy making in a complex system: The innovation and diffusion logic of China's retained land policy reform," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    17. Patrik Marier, 2017. "The politics of policy adoption: a saga on the difficulties of enacting policy diffusion or transfer across industrialized countries," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 50(3), pages 427-448, September.
    18. Muzhou Zhang, 2023. "Policy diffusion and the interdependent fuel taxes," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 176(12), pages 1-8, December.
    19. Miriam Koning & Gerard Mertens & Peter Roosenboom, 2018. "Drivers of institutional change around the world: The case of IFRS," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 49(3), pages 249-271, April.
    20. Yunxiang Zhang & Shichen Wang, 2021. "How does policy innovation diffuse among Chinese local governments? A qualitative comparative analysis of River Chief Innovation," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(1), pages 34-47, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:streco:v:72:y:2025:i:c:p:456-466. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/525148 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.