نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
نویسنده
دانشیار جغرافیای سیاسی، دانشکده علوم انسانی، دانشگاه مراغه، مراغه، ایران
چکیده
کلیدواژهها
موضوعات
عنوان مقاله [English]
نویسنده [English]
This research, employing a descriptive–analytical method, investigates and analyzes the economic performance of Iran’s free trade–industrial zones during 2013–2020. The objective is to evaluate and spatially analyze their performance in key domains such as foreign trade, investment, employment generation, foreign transit, tourism, and borderland development–poverty alleviation, with particular emphasis on structural disparities arising from geographical location as well as political, economic, and geopolitical factors. Through a holistic perspective, this spatial analysis identifies inequalities in the distribution of resources, investment, and economic opportunities across the zones. Methodologically, the integration of quantitative and qualitative data, including geographical positional analysis, provides a comprehensive interpretation of their performance. The findings reveal significant spatial disparities in performance, directly associated with access to international markets, infrastructure quality, and political–economic constraints. Northern zones, benefiting from access to Eurasian markets and relatively low-risk land and port routes, lead in foreign trade, foreign investment, and foreign transit. In contrast, southern zones, while dominant in imports, domestic investment, and infrastructural expenditures, face trade deficits and weaknesses in transit performance. The ranking of zones in terms of economic performance places Arvand, Anzali, Aras, Kish, Maku, Qeshm, and Chabahar respectively from first to seventh. To improve the overall efficiency of free trade–industrial zones, spatial policymaking should focus on strengthening port and transit infrastructures, expanding international linkages for deeper integration into the global economy, and diversifying economic activities. These measures can foster the transformation of free zones from intermediary trade hubs into dynamic, production-based and export-oriented centers.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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