Project Show
Innovative Education

Comparative Research Project on the Development of the Park Economy

2021.05.17

Various types of park economies, such as economic development zones and high-tech industrial zones, are flourishing around the world, and they are especially valued by developing countries. For these countries, promoting the development of the park economy can bring about many benefits, including accelerating industrialization, promoting emerging industries, introducing and converting high and new technologies, attracting foreign direct investment, creating jobs, and eradicating poverty, serving as a major path to economic growth.

The project is expected to drive development and talent cultivation by conducting comparative studies on the global development of the park economy. In doing so, the project aims to develop Tsinghua University into an international academic heavyweight and contribute Chinese insights to the global development of the park economy.

Drawing on the development of industrial parks in different countries, the project focuses on exploring the law of development in the park economy from economic and management perspectives combined with sociology, history, political science, public administration, and other disciplines. The project aims to conclude and develop a set of interdisciplinary theories on the park economy that are compatible with theoretical studies and quantitative approaches, providing guidelines for innovative research in the field.

Project Members at the 2019 Annual Conference of European Academy of Management in Lisbon, Portugal.Project Members at the 2019 Annual Conference of European Academy of Management in Lisbon, Portugal.

Project Progress

Themed Lectures: The Park Economy and Economic Growth

ThemeSpeakerDate
Session 1
The World Bank’s View of the Park Economy
Zeng Zhihua
Senior Economist at the World Bank
November 23, 2019
Session 2
Development of Park Economies in China
Wang Yong
Associate Professor, Institute of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University
October 8, 2019
Session 3
Development of Special Economic Zones in Bangladesh
Marianne Männlein
Researcher Fellow, Institute of New Structural Economics, Peking University
October 22, 2019
Session 4
Models and Strategies of Park Economies Abroad
Tang Xiaoyang
Associate Professor, Department of International Relations, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University
November 5, 2019
Session 5
Exploration and Practices of Industrial Parks Abroad
Liu Aimin
Chairman, China-Africa TEDA Investment Co., Ltd.
November 26, 2019
Session 6
Research Methods of Park Economies
Wang Yong
Associate Professor, Institute of Economics, School of Social Sciences, Tsinghua University
December 16, 2019

Project Outcomes

Conference Papers

  • YANG, C., CHEN, M. & ZHANG, WEI. 2019. ‘Special Economic Zones in South Africa: Historical Context, Spatial Intervention, and Zone Performance’, paper was presented at 19th Conference of European Academy of Management, 25-27 June.
  • WANG, Y., YANG, C & CHEN M. 2020. ‘Transformation of the government role in the development of special economic zones in China’, paper will be presented at 20th Conference of European Academy of Management, December, 2020.

Book Chapters

  • BLACK, A. & YANG, C. 2021, South Africa’s Special Economic Zones as destinations for Chinese investment: Problems and possibilities, Chris Alden & Yu-Shan Wu (eds): A South Africa Relationship: A Partnership of Paradoxes, Palgrave Macmillan. (Forthcoming)
  • YANG, C., WANG, Y., BLACK, A. & CHEN M. 2020. Chapter 10: Evaluating Special Economic Zones in South Africa: History, Performance and Challenges, Tim Niblock, Yang Guang & Zhou Yan (eds): Area Studies: New Realities, New Conceptions, China Social Sciences Press, Beijing.

Journal Papers

  • Wang Yong, Yang Chongsheng, & Chen Meiying. 2020. Paradigm Evolution of Park Economies in China and Changes in the Role of Government, Management of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.