Bringing Free Cities to Established (But Stagnating) Democracies
A Talk by Vera Kichanova (Senior Economist, Free Cities Foundation)
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About this Talk
Boris Johnson announced the idea of Freeports in 2019, and several were subsequently established across the UK. The move generated excitement among those working in the special economic zone space, as it signalled renewed interest in place-based economic experimentation. However, while the zones introduced useful incentives around import/export activity, many believe there is still significant untapped potential. Vera Kichanova argues that the UK is uniquely positioned to take the Freeport concept further — by enhancing their autonomy and enabling greater innovation in governance, regulation, and economic policy. In this presentation, she makes the case for why that next step matters. If you’re interested in UK policymaking and the future of special jurisdictions, this talk is one to watch.
