Zona de processamento de exportações: um estudo do impacto de sua implantação

Abstract

The Export Processing Zones (EPZs) are a governmental policy aimed at encouraging exports and attracting foreign investment. In Brazil, the Ceará EPZ was the sole operational zone until 2021, having been established in 2013. As such, this article evaluates the impact of the EPZ implementation strategy in this specific state. To achieve this, a synthetic control method is employed, utilizing a panel of balanced data from 2008 to 2020, comprising information from all Brazilian states. The findings of this research indicate the effect of a Brazilian EPZ on the exported value's performance in the region of its establishment, and also on the value collected from ICMS (Tax on the Circulation of Goods and Services). This contribution adds to the ongoing debate concerning policies that foster exports and foreign investment attraction, particularly within the context of Brazil, where the adoption of such policies has been constrained.