Structural transformation through free trade zones: the case of Shanghai

Launched in 2013, the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) was intended to serve as a platform for testing China’s new policy to facilitate more open trade and further open up its services sectors, such as finance, through easing restrictions on foreign and domestic companies. By 2018, it had attracted over 50,000 member companies. This paper provides an overview of global free economic zones (FEZs), or special economic zones (SEZs), and a detailed study of the Shanghai Pilot FTZ and its success factors and challenges. It draws out lessons that may be applicable to other developing countries.