Impact of Free Trade Zones on Welfare and Social Development of Urban and Rural Areas (Case Study: Salafchegan Free Trade Zone)

One objective of the regional and national planning is to create free trade zone, special economic zones and in general export zone, developed with the aim of increasing and developing export, employment, attracting internal investment and technology transfer and increasing public earning. The execution of such programs and the creation of these zones will have economic, political, social and cultural consequences. Therefore, in the present study the impact of the free trade zone in Salafchegan on the social development of that town has been examined. Also the effect of this zone on the social welfare of the local people and its social consequences has been dealt with. The statistical population of this project (211 households) includes all the families living in Salafchegan, 86 of which were selected as the sample size. The project's data was based on descriptive-survey research and the tools were questionnaires and interviews. Based on the results of this study the establishment of special free trade zone has led to a slight decrease in social solidarity among people of Salafchegan. However, it has resulted in an decrease in social confidence among the people of Salafchegan.