Vivek Mehra / New Delhi July 25, 2008, 0:08 IST The book is a thoroughly researched one. Palit and Bhattacharjee have successfully attempted to demystify the special economic zone (SEZ) phenomenon. The facts surrounding SEZs are presented in a simple and systematic manner. The seven chapters have been meticulously planned and flow seamlessly from one to the next. Following a useful chronology, the first chapter in book poses and answers the omnipresent question: Why economic zones? The chapter provides in-depth researched statistical data to show that zones have mushroomed all across the world, particularly in developing countries, and these zones have resulted in employment, especially for women, technology upgrade, improvement of skills of workers, and local firms outside the zone benefiting from greater links with the world economy. The chapter also provides a snap shot of how India has embraced the concept of zones from as early as 1965 (Kandla, the first Asian export processing zone) till the advent of the SEZ, as such zones are now known as, providing useful data on the actual and projected exports from these zones. The following chapter, "The New SEZs : Where, What and Why?", provides a useful overview of the geographical, product and category spread of the approved SEZs among all the states. The hard work that the authors must have put in on collecting data on both the international as well as Indian SEZs is apparent. They have managed to sketch a true Indian SEZ story in the backdrop of international SEZ experience. The chapter "Are SEZs Financially Viable?" is an interesting read for any SEZ developer. The chapter "The Political Yatra" is a brave attempt to provide an insight into the political thinking that went into India adopting the SEZ route for developing world-class infrastructure, promoting exports and generating employment within the country. The authors have managed to provide a true picture without taking sides. The next chapter provides a broad overview of the SEZ Rules governing SEZ approval, exemptions, etc. The chapter "Land of SEZs" addresses the various land acquisition issues including providing an insight into the new Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy. In the final section, "Not the Last Word", the authors have mapped some of the important issues/concerns like the restriction on the number of SEZs, too many small SEZs, capping the maximum size of the SEZs, too many IT SEZs, lack of institutional support, linkage of SEZs, location of SEZs, land acquisition, availability of single-window as envisaged under the SEZ act, labour issues, and operational issues that need to be appropriately addressed. The chapters have been enriched by overwhelming statistical data, supplemented with charts and quotations from various interviews of the stakeholders. The book is a refreshing attempt to portray SEZs in a new way, not as demons, but as angels coping as best as they can with the strain of being India's political petri dish. The book should engage anyone who is interested in special economic zones, and who wonders what their future holds. The writer is Executive Director, PricewaterhouseCoopers