Title: Employing a globalisation model to study special economic zones in the USA

Authors: Jorge Riveras; Jesús Arteaga-Ortiz; María José Miranda-Martel

Addresses: Department of Business, Framingham State University, P.O. Box 9101, 100 State Street, Crocker Hall, Off. #210, Framingham, MA 01701-9101, USA ' Edif. Departamental de Empresariales, Módulo C, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35017, Spain ' Edif. Departamental de Empresariales, Módulo C, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Campus de Tafira, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 35017, Spain

Abstract: This paper examines special economic zones (SEZs) in the USA and their relationships with globalisation. A globalisation model is employed as a framework for the study with inner domains focusing on economic, political, social, business and physical and outer domains on neighbouring country dynamics, trade blocs and global institutions. Since the term 'globalisation' is complex, a system approach using multiple domains to study globalisation and SEZs allows a broad view and facilitates analysis. The study provides a new multidimensional approach to the analysis of SEZs and their relation to globalisation with an ample and multidisciplinary perspective. The findings indicate that significant interactions among the domains exist; supporting the notion that globalisation is multidimensional and showing convergence for expansion and operation of SEZs in the USA. Current trends indicate possible divergence originating in the political and social domains as a probable deterrent for future SEZs expansion.

Keywords: special economic zones; SEZs; globalisation; trade; NAFTA; USA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2018.094989

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2018 Vol.21 No.2, pp.271 - 296

Received: 21 Dec 2016
Accepted: 07 Jun 2017
Published online: 28 Sep 2018 *

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