Explaining functional-spatial failures of free zones with emphasis On trade and commerce (Case Study: Aras Free Trade Zone)

  Aras Free Zone with economic activities in different areas, like other free zones, though rooted in classical and neoclassical theories, and Adam Smith's free trade theory, in particular, plays a decisive role in establishing it, but ignoring the principles governing the structure , Its function and its spatial evolution, is a kind of fall in the same abyss of absoluteism in the form of maximizing the profit and utility of individuals. From the perspective of this study, the root of functional failure in the free zone is the spatial patterns of its economic activity. One of the major areas of activity in the free zones is the trade and commerce sector, which has considerable scope in the Aras Free Zone. This paper intends to discover the functional-spatial imperfections and the logic of its formation in the commercial spaces of the Aras Free Zone, in order to provide an appropriate implementation of the objectives for the region.

This study is an exploratory research in nature and catagorised iv fundamental-applied research type. The discovery of the mechanisms and logic governing the social content of the spaces was based on qualitative methods and, in particular, conducting field observations and in-depth and semi-structured interviews with the stakeholders. commercial spaces in this study also included more spaces that were firstly allocated to land levels, secondly, with the exemptions and privileges of the region, and, thirdly, indicative spaces related to the realization of the goals of the Free Zone be. In this study, the content-oriented analysis method was used to analyze the information and interviews conducted. The sampling method used for this method was snowball sampling method and the sample size was determined using theoretical saturation method. 20 experts from free zones and 48 trade and business activists were selected and interviewed.

The investigations showed that Aras Free Zone has allocated vast spaces to small businesses to achieve their transcendental goals; but the performance of these spaces is associated with major failings such as managerial weakness, unhealthy economy, lack of outsourcing and unsustainable economy, and is far from the ideal model based on the goals and foundations of free zones. Generally, the domain of small business in the Free Aras area is important in several ways. First, the lack of production conditions due to the macroeconomic policies of the state and the existence of renting and speculation in this field in order to gain more profit on the one hand and the adoption of early policies and measures in line with the periodic revenues due to the weakness of the management of the Aras Free Zone, on the other hand, The capital has been largely driven into this sector, thus providing the basis for its false growth. Second, according to the claims of the officials and experts of the Aras Free Zone, the business of microeconomy has been thriving for the purpose of developing tourism tourism, with the aim of attracting tourists to the region and the economic prosperity of the region, which is quite a look inwardly and in line with the mainland. There are conflicting goals with the outsourcing of the free zone. Third, the prosperity of other areas of the Free Arar Free Zone relies heavily on the entry of goods and its supply in these commercial spaces, which in some way reproduce the relations of the dependent capitalist economy, such as the intensification of consumerism and the formation of an unhealthy economy. In total, the currency is withdrawn from the country.

The results of this paper show that the function and spaces of trade and commerce in Aras Free Zone are associated with major failings such as management weakness, unhealthy economy, non-extroversion and unstable economy. The formation of an unhealthy economic environment, such as the sale and purchase of licenses, smuggling of goods and etc in this area, with the subsequent changes in the management and personal effects, as well as the intensification of the bureaucratic system for more revenue, all indicate the use the toolkit of the spaces in this area and instability of the region's economy is due to its spatial functions. From this perspective and with the current process, rather than a free space to leave the country dependent on the economy, it is the opposite of learning and practicing the characteristics of such an economy.