THE IMPACT OF SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES ON THE TERRITORIAL COHESION OF REGION
The main research goal was to obtain an answer whether special economic zones (SEZ) are an effective economic policy instrument in obtaining better territorial cohesion of a region. Territorial cohesion in regions was considered with a demographic and socio-economic aspect. Based on selected demographic and socioeconomic development indicators for 2005, 2010 and 2015, relations between areas included in SEZ and areas outside SEZ in a region are presented. An analysis of the demographic and socio-economic development level between such areas in the regions has shown significant differences, especially in the socio-economic aspect. It was found that areas included in the SEZ are to a significant extent ahead of areas without SEZ in terms of the socio-economic development level, while the vicinity of dynamically developing areas begins to stimulate faster development of areas outside of SEZ. This indicates that over a longer perspective SEZ may influence the territorial cohesion of a region.