The Governance Gauge: Comparison of China-Africa SEZs

We hope you enjoy this Wednesday’s Governance Gauge: for more reading material, you can always visit our reading list for more on governance, special economic zones, best practices and studies!

A joined effort by the UNDP and the Chinese International Poverty Reduction center, this comparative study examines SEZ projects in Africa and China, the best practices that can be extracted from both, as well as fascinating insights regarding the relation between nations such as Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, and the PRC.

The study is composed of 5 segments, with a tone that is far less academic than a comparative study would be expected to have. However, the sources and recommended reading is excellent.

The chapters regard, in sequence: the basics of SEZs, case studies of SEZs in Africa, case studies of SEZs in China, the lessons one can learn from the other, as well as recommended reading on the subject.

Creators of zones and societies can find excellent insights into the common mistakes made by novice zone operators and steer clear of them, as well as innovative solutions to common problems, in chapter 2.

Policymakers and analysts will mostly look at chapters 3 and 4, where the policy in China for the creation of zones and their governance is described. Figures and facts throughout the book are excellent.

Scholars and experts can use the definitions of various (less known) types of zones and the figures in this work, as well as original insights from chapters 2 and 6, which are more theoretical.

The full .pdf can be read and downloaded here.