Study and Analysis of Special Economic Zones. Proposal for the Improvement of the Current Spanish Free Trade Zones

Abstract

The existing global situation shows a sharp decline in global trade; this together with new free trade agreements under discussion, makes the debate of Special Economic Zones an extremely current topic. Promoting and developing special economic zones play an important role in policies to promote deprived areas. This article aims to support the management of organizations involved in trade, the academic world as well as government.Employing classifications that exist in current literature, since Special Economic Zones have been showing an exponential increase some of the existing ones around the world have been studied and analyzed. Numerous differences exist depending upon the country or region where the Special Economic Zones are located, but its typology tends to be similar by region. The Special Economic Zones in Europe could be classified as Free Trade Zones, exhibiting tax advantages only when they coexist with other compatible regimes.This study allows a comparison of the advantages different special economic zones may have with those located in Spain and puts forward proposals to improve its competitiveness. Even though there is not a single formula for success, we can say that the greater the relationship the area with the economic zone the bigger the success.