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Learning from experience: Special Economic Zones in Southern Africa

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  • Neva Makgetla

Abstract

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have become common across Southern Africa in the past 20 years. In line with experiences in the rest of the world, they have had at best marginal success. Their essential premise is that it should be more efficient and effective to establish an enclave with world-class administration and infrastructure than to address cross-cutting blockages to growth. In East Asia, this approach was able to build on a broader national industrialization trajectory. In Southern Africa, by contrast, it has proved unable to offset the main constraints on investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Neva Makgetla, 2021. "Learning from experience: Special Economic Zones in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-124, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2021-124
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Richard Adu-Gyamfi & Simplice A. Asongu & Tinaye S. Mmusi & Herbert Wamalwa & Madei Mangori, 2020. "A comparative study of export processing zones in the wake of sustainable development goals: Cases of Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania and Zimbabwe," Research Africa Network Working Papers 20/025, Research Africa Network (RAN).
    2. Mwanda Phiri & Shimukunku Manchishi, 2020. "Special economic zones in Southern Africa: white elephants or latent drivers of growth and employment?: The case of Zambia and South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-160, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    3. Neva Makgetla, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic and the economy in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-113, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Cornelius Dube & Wellington Matsika & Gamuchirai Chiwunze, 2020. "Special economic zones in Southern Africa: Is success influenced by design attributes?," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-61, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Roseline T. Karambakuwa & Ronney M. Ncwadi & Weliswa Matekenya & Leward Jeke & Syden Mishi, 2020. "Special economic zones and transnational zones as tools for Southern Africa's growth: Lessons from international best practices," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2020-170, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. repec:wbk:wbpubs:32437 is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Jan Roan Neethling & Daniel Meyer, 2024. "Stakeholders’ perceptions on the functionality and sustainability of selected industrial development zones (IDZs) in South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 13(1), pages 87-98, January.
    2. Tigere P. Muringa & Elvin Shava, 2025. "‘Learning and Unlearning’: Core Leadership Competencies for Driving Success in Special Economic Zones in South Africa," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-20, February.

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