Typology of special economic zones of Russia

The classification of special economic zones used in Russia is limited to defining their type by their role in the regional economy, which narrows the information base for managing special economic zones and using them as an institution for developing the regional economy. The objective of the study is to expand the typology of special economic zones in Russia for practical application in the process of managing SEZs and assessing their effectiveness. The hypothesis of the study is that such characteristics as the age of the special economic zone, the phase of the life cycle, the territory occupied and the industries being developed have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the zones and can serve as tools for their development. The research methods include an analysis of existing classification methods, analytical grouping of data, and expert assessments. The information base is the annual reports of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, data from the business navigator on special economic zones from the Association of Clusters and Technology Parks, as well as the resources of regional authorities. The author's typology of special economic zones is proposed based on the following criteria: creation period, life cycle phase, occupied territory, the number of priority areas of activity and the speed of achieving efficiency. It is revealed that industrial production and technology and innovation zones pass the life cycle phases faster and achieve efficiency compared to touristic and recreational, as well as port zones. Most zones (66 %) contribute to the diversification of the regional economy, developing several non-related industries. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying the proposed typology for a more accurate assessment of the activities of special economic zones, coordinating their development with regional strategies and increasing management efficiency. The results can be taken into account by supervisory and management bodies in the methodological support of the processes of planning and monitoring regional development.