Modernizing the performance evaluation system for Special Economic Zones

In 2025, 53 zones underwent such an evaluation, underscoring the scale of the instrument and the need for an adequate methodology for its oversight. At present, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation is initiating adjustments to the evaluation methodology aimed at increasing the objectivity of comparing SEZ performance and taking into account the specifics of their life cycle.

A key direction of the changes is the отказ from a number of indicators deemed methodologically vulnerable or no longer relevant. In particular, it is proposed to exclude residents’ revenue levels from the list of criteria. The reason for this decision is not only substantive but also technical: the absence of a unified calculation methodology and reliable verifiable data sources makes this indicator poorly suited for comparative analysis. The revenue of an individual resident is subject to significant fluctuations under the influence of market conditions, industry specifics, and macroeconomic factors over which the SEZ management company cannot exert direct control. From a scientific standpoint, including such a parameter in the zone performance evaluation system leads to distorted results and shifts the focus from controllable factors to external, exogenous variables.

Similarly, the отказ from assessing the SEZs’ contribution to achieving national goals on the basis of “regulatorily outdated” indicators is justified. Comparing the zones’ activities with target indicators formulated in earlier strategic planning documents often does not reflect current priorities and the instrument’s real capabilities. This creates the risk of a formalistic approach to evaluation, where a zone’s success is determined not by actual results but by compliance with outdated standards.

In the updated methodology, the emphasis shifts to three key calculated indicators: the efficiency of residents’ activities, the return on budget investments in SEZs, and the effectiveness of the zone’s governing bodies. This approach makes it possible to focus on those aspects that truly reflect the results of management decisions and the rational use of public resources. At the same time, a set of quantitative indicators is retained — the number of residents and jobs created, the volumes of investment and budget вложения in infrastructure, as well as tax and customs payments received from residents. These metrics provide the necessary granularity and make it possible to conduct a multi-level analysis of SEZ development dynamics.

A significant element of the reform is a change in the approach to the financial responsibility of regions. The draft decree provides for relieving regional authorities of the obligation to return to the federal budget the funds allocated for the creation and development of infrastructure if an SEZ is признана “sufficiently effective” (40–79 % of the maximum score) or “ineffective” (less than 40 %). This decision is driven by the need to take into account the stages of the SEZ life cycle: in the early stages, most projects are in the investment phase, when financial results do not reflect the zone’s long-term potential. Returning funds under such conditions may limit a region’s ability to complete infrastructure projects and lead to a slowdown in the site’s development.

At the same time, the mechanism for early termination of ineffective SEZs is preserved: a zone may be liquidated if it is recognized as ineffective for five consecutive years. The Ministry of Economic Development is also considering the possibility of shortening this period, which indicates a desire to increase regulatory flexibility and timely корректировать ineffective projects.

The expert community assesses the proposed changes as well-grounded and timely.  The proposed adjustments are consistent with the principles of effective public administration: they are aimed at reducing distortions in the system of incentives, increasing transparency, and taking into account the real capabilities of the participants in the process. отказ from hard-to-verify and exogenous indicators makes it possible to shift the emphasis from formal plan fulfillment to achieving real economic effects — job creation, attracting investment, infrastructure development, and рост in tax revenues.

Modernizing the evaluation methodology — is not merely a technical change, but an element of a broader strategy to adapt the SEZ mechanism to new economic realities.

The transformation of the SEZ evaluation system makes it possible to выделить several key trends: there is a transition from rigid quantitative standards to more flexible, process-oriented criteria that take into account the specifics of the project life cycle; the emphasis on controllable factors is усилен — the activities of the management company, the efficiency of budget spending, and the quality of infrastructure;  a more balanced approach to regional responsibility is being сформирован, eliminating counterproductive financial sanctions at the early stages of zone development.

Thus, the changes proposed by the Ministry of Economic Development represent an important step toward increasing the effectiveness and adaptability of the SEZ instrument. Their implementation can not only improve the quality of monitoring and control, but also create more favorable conditions for the long-term development of zones, attracting investment, and forming устойчивых points of economic growth. In the long term, this may contribute to strengthening the role of SEZs as one of the key elements of regional policy and a mechanism for stimulating investment activity in the Russian Federation.

Author: PhD in Economics, Associate Professor, Department of World Economy and World Finance, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Natalia Ivanovna Chovgan.