Trends and difficulties in developing the infrastructure of special preferential areas
Subject. The article discusses the way the infrastructure of special preferential areas (special economic zones, socio-economic priority development areas) is being developed, and reviews respective processes. Objectives. We evaluate the current trends and identify difficulties in implementing infrastructure projects across preferential areas. Methods. The study relies upon general methods, such as generalization, synthesis and analysis of available scientific results concerning the economic category of infrastructure and classification of its types. We applied general methods of analysis and comparative analysis to determine the future development of the infrastructure in special preferential areas. To detect what hampers PPP infrastructure projects and describe them, we used the synthesized approach and methods of logic-intuitive and comparative analysis. Results. We analyzed the pool of scientific results to determine the economic category of infrastructure and classify its types. We provide our own definition of the infrastructure of preferential areas and evaluate the current trends in infrastructure projects, including those in special preferential areas. Investment in the ongoing projects was found to be insufficient to meet all infrastructure development needs. Public-private partnership was proved to contribute to the infrastructure development in special preferential areas. We discovered some barriers to PPP development mechanisms in special preferential areas. Conclusions and Relevance. Public-private partnership will contribute to the successful implementation of the above projects provided respective parties will eliminate an array of barriers. The elimination of social, political, economic, environmental and other barriers will help the areas become more competitive to secure investment resources and demonstrate better results of the socio-economic development.