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This is the second of two papers in which the programmatic structure and effectiveness of state government designated enterprise zones (EZs) are analyzed. With use of data on EZs from 14 states, the relationships are examined between job and/or investment gains and variables reflecting different state policies, zone locations, and zone settings. It is argued that, if states wish to purse EZ policies, they should focus on a small number of ‘retrievable’ zones, adopt a broad and quality package of business incentives, use no more restrictive designation criteria than needed, explore the possibilities of more direct targeting of existing state development activities into the zones, and seek strong local participation in the promotional effort.

Since the early 1980s, there has been widespread debate over the impacts of rising levels of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) on the U.S. economy. A frequently noted, but little studied, issue within the debate is the impact of FDI on U.S. foreign trade, and particularly, on the foreign trade of U S . regions. This study assesses the effects of FDI on the manufacturing export performance of U.S. states during the period from 1980 to 1991. Results indicate that increased levels of FDI are positively related to future improvements in state manufacturing export performance.

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It i s widely recognized that increasing global economic integration plays a significant role in the industrial restructuring of many regional economies in the U.S. Yet the absence of information on trade flows between component regions of the U.S. and foreign destinations has hampered meaningful research o n the impacts of international trade on specific regions. A matrix of export flows for the manufacturing sector is constructed by merging two Census Bureau data series. These data demonstrate pronounced bi-coastal and north-south tendencies in the export flow patterns of nine U.S. regions. We present a model of regional trade flows that builds upon previous research on the geography of international trade. The results support the empirical validity of spatial interaction models of international trade at the regional scale, while also lending support to hypotheses focusing upon overlapping demand structures, political and cultural factors, and foreign direct investment ties. An identification of the patterns and determinants of U.S. regional manufacturing exports suggests that potentially important differences in regional industrial impacts may accompany contemporary developments in international trade.