Thierry Pairault posted on 1 August 2018 a working paper titled "De pseudo-ZES le long des nouvelles routes de la soie: les zones de cooperation economique et commerciale a l'etranger."
A number of studies have concluded that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) inspired by China are the solution to Africa's development. This study asks if the model of Overseas Economic and Trade Cooperation Zones (OETCZ) that China proposes for countries along the Silk Road corresponds well with existing SEZs. The paper raises doubts.