Activities of small and medium enterprises in warmia and mazury special economic zone

Special economic zones are a special instrument of regional and economic policy of the State. Their concept in highly developed countries is a subject of numerous arguments. The opponents draw attention to examples of ineffectiveness of government regulations and interventions related to that instrument of regional policy. In the developing countries, the zones are to serve economic development of the country while support to the regional development is usually of secondary importance. Considering the influence on the labor market, it is more beneficial to address the program of special economic zones to the small and medium enterprises. The study presented in the paper aimed at determining the specific features of enterprises operating in the Warmia and Mazury Special Economic Zone (W-MSEZ). The research covered 12 of 13 enterprises, which signed the contracts about the leadership of activity in the zone. The method of direct interview was used to the assemble information. The investigated enterprises in W-MSEZ were mainly employing up to 50 persons (82%). To avoid the development of an enclave attempts should be taken to integrate the enterprises operating in the zone with the region and the national economy. During the study no cases of establishing cooperation relations among the studied enterprises were recorded. Enterprises representing traditional industries carried their activities in the special economic zone