中國實施「改革開放」政策以後，經濟上的改革與發展遂為中央與地方政府的施政重心。以蘇州地區而言，八十年代初中期仍是以鄉鎮企業作為發展核心，創造所謂的「蘇南模式」。然而隨後尤其九十年代以降，該地區當局改採外向型的經濟戰略，帶動大量的外資進駐，形成新的「蘇南經驗」─即「外資牽引」模式。本文旨在探討全球化趨勢下，蘇州地區發展外向型經濟的原因、過程、策略及其意義，其中特別關注政府的角色及其設立的經濟技術開發區的作用。資料來源主要是 1999 年及 2000 年兩次移地蘇州研究，實地考察當地四個重要的經濟技術開發區，並且訪問相關的各層級政府單位的代表。 經過探討及分析，本文獲得下述的發現與結論：(一)八十年代中後期，尤其是九十年代以降，蘇州地區在中國政府中央的經濟發展戰略主導下，採取外向型經濟的路線，帶動一種外國直接投資的新發展經驗，放棄了前一階段盛行的蘇南模式。(二)在整個外向型經濟的發展過程中，蘇州地方政府主導設計和規劃地方的發展，扮演著積極而重要的角色，出現「產權地方化」及「政權公司化」的現象。地方政府猶如一個「公司」或「企業」，亦算是一種另類的「政經合一」的模式，其具體的角色可以從她們和中央政府、地方資本及外國資本的關係明白。(三)蘇州地區各地方政府幾乎採取相同的發展模式，爭相設立經濟技術開發區做為外向型經濟發展的核心，其意義至少有三個：1、吸收外資，拓展出口，致力發展高新技術產業；2、城市的綜合發展；3、放寬來自中央或地方政府的直接控制和干預，提高其決策和經營管理的自主權。

　　　　　Since the end of 1980s, China has actively executed her reforming policy, especially in economic reform to attract foreign capital enrolling in. This study accomplished the fieldwork two times during 1999 and 2000 and got the first-hand data from Suzhou region to highlight the economic policies of local governments, such as the outward-looking economic strategies and the development of economic development zones. Some interesting and important findings from the research are: (1) After the central government decided to release the economic interests in the early of 1980s, the economic and financial autonomy of local government in China was beginning during this time. They have played an important role in local economic development, even in promotion the “ownership localization” and “political right businesslike” such as an alliance model of politics and economy. (2) To local governments including Suzhou, Kunshan and Wujiang cities, the purpose of opening the economic development zones is to learn the new high technology and improve the economic upgrade. Therefore, they utilized the advantages of investment conditions of these districts to attract the foreign capital. At the same time, they gradually abandoned the famous development policy, so called ‘Southern Jiangsu Model,’ in which the collectively ownership local enterprises had the lion’s share and played significant role. (3) And the Suzhou governments have many special offers in these districts like the “enterprise zone” in England, such as the preferential tax policy, new labor management regulation, land utilization, infrastructure, and so on. However, it is only a bipartite relationship of local government and foreign capital, but not any local capital involves in these zones. It is unlike Peter Evans described the “triple alliance” relations. Hence it is disadvantageous to the local industrial development. Besides, this study had discovered two features in these economic development zones: one is an aggregative phenomenon could be observed. For example, there are many Taiwanese enterprises concentrate in Wujiang and Kunshan Economic Development Zones. The other one is the outward-looking economics in Suzhou more like Taiwan Export Processing Zone model than Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park model. The latter is a real tripartite cooperation model of government, business and academia.