The Impact of Trade Liberalization on Regional Development: A Case Study of the Maku Free Trade-Industrial Zone

This study evaluates the effect of the approval of Maku Free Trade-Industrial Zone on the development of counties located in this region. For this purpose, the development index of the counties has been calculated based on 22 variables and the TOPSIS method for 2011 and 2016. The results indicated that the development convergence hypothesis between the counties is not confirmed. Also, the approval of Maku Free Trade-Industrial Zone has increased the difference (positive difference) in the level of development of Maku county from the average development of the counties of West Azerbaijan province. For Showt county, despite the improvement in the development rank, the difference (negative difference) has increased from the average development of the counties of West Azerbaijan province. For Poldasht county, while the rank deteriorates, difference (negative difference) from the average development of the counties of West Azerbaijan province has also increased. In summary of the results, it can be argued that the approval of Maku Free Trade-Industrial Zone has not made a significant change in this zone in terms of development.