THE FREE ECONOMIC ZONE OF MANAUS VIS-À-VIS THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the evolution of sustainability indicators within the Free Economic Zone of Manaus (Zona Franca de Manaus - ZFM), with a specific focus on workforce engagement in the manufacturing sector. Method/design/approach: Employing descriptive research methods, this research equips both public and private organizations with evaluation tools to assess industrial employment's quality in the context of sustainable development. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring sustainable development indicators at various geographical levels to facilitate effective corrective strategies. Results and conclusion: The public policies adopted in the ZFM, although generating economic growth, had adverse effects on other social indicators such as quality of life, urban sprawl, and population explosion. These outcomes indicate a misalignment with the Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda. Notably, these misalignments are evident in the declining number of manufacturing plant employees, persistent gender-based wage disparities, a rise in workers in lower income brackets, and subsequently, a limited potential for local consumption. Research implications: The ZFM exemplifies the vital role of public policy in driving development. While innovation in the ZFM is still at an early stage, there exists potential for linking economic innovation to improvements in quality of life and sustainable natural resource management. Originality/value: This analysis focuses on sustainability indicators to assess regional development, highlighting the significance of Sustainable Development Goals in evaluating the quality of development and monitoring the outcomes of public policy within the unique context of the ZFM.


INTRODUCTION
The Free Economic Zone of Manaus (ZFM) is the result of a project run by the Brazilian government in the 1950s.The project aimed to integrate a region which up until then had limited connections with Brazil's economy and to reduce inequalities between the Northern and Central-South regions.Since then, companies, particularly from the household appliances, motorcycles and computer goods industries have set up plants in the region to get taxation incentives in purchasing inputs and commercializing production.Another incentive to those companies is related to abundant and low-paid labor force available in that zone (Seráfico & Seráfico, 2005).
Studies on the impacts of the ZFM in the literature include Bispo (2009) who analyses how these incentives affect the creation and distribution of wealth in the area; Ferreira and Botelho (2014) who study the type of employment generated; and Seráfico and Seráfico (2005) who examine some of the stages of political and social strategies during the constitution of the ZFM.
Regarding the discussion on progress, sustainability, environmentalism and ecological modernization, Brianeze and Sorrentino (2012) noted that, in the case of the ZFM, the debate focused mainly on Amazonas state indicators.Municipal indicators including an accelerated birth rate, decreasing quality of life, degradation of the urban environment and the economy's dependence on a basic tax exemption model were excluded from the debate.
Despite the concerns surrounding these incentives, the importance of the city of Manaus in generating industrial employment and income must be recognised.According to the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS), Manaus acommodated 82% of the industrial plants from the Amazonas state in 1985 (744).This number had almost tripled, reaching 2121 companies in the state, 81% of which were in Manaus.In 2017, 94% of industrial jobs generated in the state were located in Manaus.
Despite the economic importance of Manaus, social inequality was already evident in Manaus during the rubber boom.The industrial model led to even greater disparities as a result of growth that was not accompanied by adequate infrastructure and equipment in the urban area, thus intensifying the concentration of urban poverty (Giatti et al., 2011).These events were made even worse by a demographically concentrated metropolitan structure, highlighting a clear division in the spatial distribution of wealth -households of higher income concentrated in the central region and vulnerable households on the periphery and river banks (Giatti et al., 2011;Costa, 2016).
Manaus'experience led to discuss the effects of "forced" growth policies and sustainable development, both in Brazil and in the rest of the world.Despite these discussions, indicators in South American countries (Gonzales-Cabezas, Zaror, & Herrera, 2019), including Brazil (Leal Filho et al., 2018), were mostly unaligned with sustainable development (SD), particularly in the case of income distribution.Such result was also evident in the Amazonas state (Giatti et al., 2011;Costa, 2016).
The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the ZFM's performance in light of the SD objectives, particulary regarding industrial employment and development, proposed by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda.The ZFM was chosen for two reasons.Firstly due to the peculiarities of its formation, which was as a result of public policies to stimulate development, and secondly to highlight the need for more specific evaluations of different regions and populational groups, as suggested by the United Nations Brazil (ONUBR, 2017).
By employing descriptive research, this study aims to provide evaluation tools for public and private organizations, mainly to guide decisions regarding the generation of industrial employment and the quality of such employment, considering SD.The analysis of the evolution of sustainable development indicators at different geographical levels is relevant so that corrective strategies can be implemented (Gonzales-Cabezas et al., 2019).
This article is divided into three main parts, in addition to this introduction and the conclusion.In the first part, there is a discussion based on the literature about the evolution of sustainable development, emphasizing the challenges of measuring and creating indicators that encompass various dimensions.This section also includes a brief description of the evolution of the Free Economic Zone of Manaus and the characteristics of its economic development.The second part presents the methodology of this article.Finally, the third section analyzes the data related to two of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
This section starts with an examination of the literature, tracing the trajectory of sustainable development's evolution.Its primary focus lies in the complexities associated with quantifying and formulating indicators that can comprehensively capture multifaceted dimensions.Additionally, it is presented a concise overview of the historical evolution of the Free Economic Zone of Manaus, shedding light on the distinctive characteristics of its economic development.

From Material Growth to Sustainable Development
Using the 2030 Agenda as a guideline to evaluate the ZFM´s experience requires dealing with some peculiarities of the sustainable development, the evolution of such concept and the need to measure it.
The concept of economic development is traditionally associated with material gain, in other words, to economic growth and resultant social changes.Until the 1970s, few studies, which included those carried out by Georgescu-Roegen (1971), looked at the environmental restrictions to economic growth.
The limits that natural resources pose to economic growth have been notorious since the publication of studies carried out by the Club of Rome.Pollution and finite natural resources represented limitations to material growth, according to the Malthusian viewpoint on economic growth (Nobre, 2002;Daly, 2004;Romeiro, 2010;Abramovay, 2012).In reaction to the proposal of zero growth to avoid an environmental catastrophe, a new concept, known as ecodevelopment, arose.The eco-development proposal recognizes the importance of economic growth to reduce poverty, while indicating that technical progress can lessen the environmental restrictions, without eradicating them (Romeiro, 2010).It is therefore implicitly possible to conciliate material growth and the limited supply of natural resources.
The concept of sustainable development strengthened this idea of conciliation.This concept appeared officially for the first time in 1983 in studies carried out by the World Commission on Environment and Development.
Some authors admit that it is difficult to operationalize the definition of sustainable development and that its conceptual structure is limited (Nobre, 2002;Seghezzo, 2009)."The concept is deliberately vague and inherently contradictory" (O´Riordan, 1993apud Nobre, 2002).Such words are, at the same time, a criticism and a recognition of strength, since keeping sustainable development vague helped its diffusion into and adaptation to different contexts (academic, political and organizational).
The theme of sustainable development appeared again as a guarantee to combine environmental concerns with social justice and with the economic efficiency of public and private organizations in Agenda 21 -one of the main reports written during the second United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.Since then, methodological efforts have been taken to evaluate sustainability.
One of the first actions came about during the conference, as seen in Chapter 40 of Agenda 21 which deals with decision-making, at the national, international, local or individual levels (UNSDG, 1992).The text suggests creating indicators of sustainable development and improving the evaluation methods.In paragraph 40.1, the following orientation is given: "Indicators of sustainable development need to be developed to provide solid bases for decision-making at all levels and to contribute to a self-regulating sustainability of integrated environment and development".
As a result of the Rio Conference, the Sustainable Development Commission was created.This commission defined 135 indicators, successively reduced to 59, to meet the needs laid out in Agenda 21 (Carvalho & Barcellos, 2010, p. 115).In 1996, a group of researchers came together under the guidance of the International Institute of Sustainable Development.This group wrote a set of principles, known as the Bellagio Principles, to characterize the indicators of sustainability developed by international institutions, local and national governments, companies and other organizations (Hardi & Zdan, 1997).
In 2000, after the Millennium Summit, eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were proposed together with a set of targets and indicators, to reduce poverty and social inequality, while taking measures related to the environment and promoting economic growth.The MDGs reflected a clear vision of sustainable development based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL).
The advances made over the 15 years of these goals influenced the United Nations Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 2015 (Rio +20).A new set of objectives were put in place to substitute the MDGs, considering the continuation and amplification of the proposal.The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), along with their 169 targets and indicators, were the result of a much broader decisive process than that of the MDGs (Swain, 2018).Commonly, they must all use accurate and readily available data in order to monitor any developments made to meets the objectives defined (Swain, 2018).
The commitment to sustainable development, with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, took on a global nature.Overlapping of the 17 SDG targets is evident, highlighting the global nature of sustainable development.With the creation of the SDGs, it was necessary to define indicators to evaluate the progress of specific countries in order to reach these objectives.
Since the Brundtland Report, talks on sustainable development and its multidimensional nature have gone hand in hand with those surrounding its dimensions, mainly three -social, economic, and environmental.As proposed by John Elkington in the 1990s when Cannibals with forks was published (1994), the so-called Triple Bottom Line (TBL) continues to be a much-used approach, specifically in business environments.
Considering the three dimensions proposed by the TBL, it is worth noting that the evaluation goes beyond the sum of these three separate dimensions.Moreover, establishing their inter-relations can avoid generating isolated data that do not reflect sustainability (Oliveira et al., 2022).According to Pope et al. (2004) this is a weakness of the TBL model, given that it separates the three dimensions and tends to highlight the conflicts of interests instead of their relationships and interdependencies.
Despite efforts made to construct different indicators, "it is unclear how they may help to address present and future sustainability challenges" (Leal Filho et al., 2018, p. 1).

The Free Economic Zone of Manaus
The aim of the Free Economic Zone of Manaus (ZFM) was to become an agricultural, commercial and industrial center (specialized in the production of household appliances, motorcycles and computer goods).One of its objectives, according to Bispo (2009), was to "integrate the Amazon with the country's economy, in order to promote better productive and social integration, as well as guaranteeing national sovereignty on the frontiers with bordering countries" (p.207).
The proposal was formalized by Law no.3.173, on June 7, 1957.Article number 5 exempted this area from taxes, making it a free trade area for imports and exports and special fiscal incentives.
Foreign merchandise, on arrival in Manaus's free trade zone, and while it remains in the area, is exempt from customs duty or any other federal, state or municipal tax, and can be processed and deposited in the conservation area itself (Brasil, 1957).
The creation of the ZFM and others in the Brazilian Northern region adhered to UN guidelines on free economic zones to promote industrial development.At least 30 developing countries followed these guidelines to boost their economies at the beginning of the 1970s (Seráfico & Seráfico, 2005).
In addition to establishing other free trade areas, further decrees expanded the fiscal incentives of the ZFM.These incentives were initially due to end in 1997 but were extended to 2013 and later to 2023.A constitutional amendment proposal (PEC nº 103/2011) is currently in process in the National Congress to extend the fiscal concession deadline to 2073 (Brianezi & Sorrentino, 2012).
Various authors studied the ZFM.Some of them discussed its effects on strengthening forest protection due to industrial concentration in Manaus (Franceschi & Kahn, 2003;Ferreira & Botelho, 2014).However, this was later demystified by Costa (2016).He highlighted that there is no evidence that the ZFM contributed to forest preservation, in Manaus or any other area of the Amazon state.This was observed because the principal triggers of deforestation are cattle farming, extensive plantations and exploration of timber production -activities that were not developed in the city of Manaus but in the south of the Amazonas state.
Moreover, according to Costa (2016), the ZFM provoked negative environmental impacts with the deterioration of the urban area, due to its occupation model -similar to that adopted in other countries around the world.The significant increase in the population, because of rural migration looking for a job, impacted life in Manaus with the creation of new neighborhoods, many of which precarious, on the city's periphery.
According to Giatti et al. (2011, p. 19), the fast growth of ZFM put pressure on the consumption of electric power, the number of vehicles on the streets and the occupation of physical space.Giatti et al. (2011, p. 19) defined the increase in this occupation as "spatialization of social inequalities (…), riverbank dwellings with their precarious sanitation and risks associated with flooding; and the distant periphery, where the city is overgrowing quickly and it is deprived of infrastructure".
Other authors evaluated the impacts on tax collection and employment (Bomfim & Botelho, 2009).According to Bispo (2009), the government was the greatest beneficiary of the ZFM, since the sum of salaries and profits was lower than the taxes collected by the government.
Furthermore, Bomfim and Botelho (2009) showed that the fiscal incentives given to companies in the ZFM distributed relatively less wealth to employees and employers than those installed in other regions or even by Amazonian companies that did not have the fiscal incentives.Their study was conducted for a sample of large companies, operating in similar sectors within and outside the ZFM.Despite this, the authors state that price was positively impacted by fiscal incentives and when comparing prices of similar products, those manufactured in this free area are the lowest, even after adding freight and other contributions.
Since its launch in 1968, the ZFM has benefited from high labor supply, predominantly made up of poorly qualified and young workers, contributing to reduce the value of labor and increasing competition between the workers for available positions (Seráfico & Seráfico, 2005;Scherer, 2005).
In the 1980s, the ZFM strengthened with companies from the household appliances, watchmaking, motorcycle, thermoplastics and optics industries that utilized technical support from their headquarters abroad.With an activity directed primarily at the production of final goods for the Brazilian market, companies in the ZFM followed a simplified production strategy, typically Taylorist.
This type of production largely employs a semi-specialized and young workforce.Furthermore, female workforce is welcome due to the "artisan and semi-artisan skills required in activities such as crystal lapidation, watchmaking and manufacturing of household appliances [and that the] wages paid to women are lower than to men" (Scherer, 2005, p.67).Ferreira and Botelho (2014) state that, because of this competitive advantage in the ZFM, the number of operational employees -linked exclusively to production lines -is high when compared to the rest of Brazil.But even for operational tasks, the local labor force hardly met the demand made by local companies.According to Pimentel (2002), it was not long before "professional training programs" were required.At the same time, for the most highly qualified positions, companies in the ZFM tend to employ workers from the south of the country, particularly from São Paulo state or, in case of multinational firms, from abroad, usually from their countries of origin (Lima & Valle, 2013;Brito, 2017).
The globalization process in the 1990s heightened the so-called structural unemployment in Brazilian manufacturing plants.Until then, they were not exposed to international competition.According to Pimentel (2002), given the global technological trends during the 1990s and the evolution of industrial automation, industrial employment should prioritize knowledge-intensive occupations.Furthermore, the development models that seek competitiveness via cheap and poorly qualified workers would tend to slow down, which took place in the ZFM (Scherer, 2005;Brito, 2017).
Moreover, the policy of trade liberalization applied since the 1990s caused a massive dismissal of workers in the industrial sector of Manaus.This was due to a reduction in import tariffs, particularly in the electronics sector, inducing factories to close or to reduce their number of production lines.Downsizing is a typical problem of operational workers, given that workers are vulnerable to technological developments, economic policy measures and their consequences.As a result of trade liberalization, the ZFM became a net importer of technological inputs from Asian countries (Giatti et al., 2011).
Organizational innovations and automation adoption in companies in the ZFM led to a change in the occupational structure.Firms focused on qualified and multifunctional labor force instead of non-qualified workers.Such changes had relevant impacts on unemployment and informality.(Scherer, 2005;Brito, 2017).Simultaneously, the outsourcing of production support activities and the hiring of temporary workers flattened wages and restricted access to social benefits offered by industrial companies (Scherer, 2005;Lima & Valle, 2013).
Similar tendencies can be seen throughout the 2000s.However, once again there was an increase in the demand for female employees trained to carry out simple tasks, such as machine supervision.Together with the high turnover and high labor supply, ZFM salaries remained low (Brito, 2017, p. 87).
In sum, the workforce within the ZFM continues to be competitive and cheap, and even with recent technological advancements, it has remained a valuable asset.This strategy poses challenges for public policy, such as managing the flow of innovation between the North and South of the country.
The ONUBR (2017) highlighted another consequence of economic turbulence on the industrial sector.The new investment cycles have been delayed or even cancelled, which reduces the capacity of the sector to incorporate new technologies, for example cleaner processes that drive industry toward sustainable development.These circumstances also lead to a fall in industrial employment, contrary to the UN's vision of the relevant role of industry in the creation of jobs.
In a recent study on the evolution of SDGs strategy in a selected group of countries, Leal Filho et al. (2018) showed that in Brazil, the economic, social and environmental situation suggests that the country is not implementing the targets as it should.This finding can be confirmed by the permanence of chronic poverty, social inequality, violence and the large-scale degradation of ecosystems such as the Amazon.These results confirm other studies on the effects of neoliberalism in the Brazilian economy, stressing its contribution to inequality and precariousness, objective and subjective (Souza et al., 2023).

METHODOLOGY
This research can be classified as descriptive research, since the objective is to observe, register and analyze variables related to a given subject (Cervo & Brevian, 2002).An analysis of a set of variables was chosen to describe and assess the effects of industrialization in the ZFM based on the SDGs.Given this procedure, this study can be classified as a bibliographical and documental research project.The data used in the empirical analysis were collected from primary sources such as administrative publications and official statistical sources.
As previously mentioned, in 2015 the UN Office for Sustainable Development concluded a new round of negotiations based on the results of the MDGs to guide and establish policies in world economies up until 2030.These negotiations defined 17 SDGs and relative 169 targets, which were used as data selection criteria for the present study.
Two of them were chosen for data selection in order to assess the performance of the ZFM.These two goals, which present complementarities and interconnections, as noted by Ipea (2018), are: SDG 8 (Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all); and SDG 9 (Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation).8 SDG 8 contributes to sustainable development with the concept of decent work proposed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1999."The primary goal of the ILO today is to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work under conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity" (ILO, 1999, p. 14).The promotion of decent work is associated with sustainable economic growth (targets 8.1 to 8.4).It also focuses on eliminating inequalities and promoting inclusion in the job market (target 8.5) and encouraging a safe environment respecting workers'rights (target 8.8).
The second SDG was selected because it is related to the first one and the UN understands manufacturing as an important driver of employment and development.However, when comparing the industrial sector value added (per capita) of developed and developing countries, the difference is striking.According to the UN, in the least developed countries, industry adds just 2.2% of developed nations' value added (UNSDG, date unknown).
In addition to the different participation of industry in GDP, the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the manufacturing process differs between economies, reinforcing the need for technological innovation in processes.
This study covers the years from 1990 onward, when the ZFM was already wellestablished, as noted by Bispo (2009), and trade liberalization in Brazil was more intense.The sustainability indicators were organized and presented on a five-yearly basis to assess sustainability tendencies while minimizing possible atypical variations.
Finally, the last step consisted of finding available data at the municipal and state level (considering that most of the industrial establishments in the Amazonas state are in the capital, Manaus).The data analyzed in this paper come from the following databases: RAIS, SUFRAMA, IBGE, SEEG and the Ministry of Social Security.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
As already discussed in the literature, the population and economy in Manaus grew as a result of industrial growth from the 1970s (Seráfico & Seráfico, 2005;Pimentel, 2002).The possibility to obtain cheap labor together with fiscal exemption attracted companies to the area.
Tables 1 and 2 present a set of the indicators proposed to meet the sustainable development targets.These tables were elaborated using available municipal data as mentioned in the previous methodological section. 1 The importance of the manufacturing industry for the city of Manaus is evident, as can be seen in table 2. This industry represents 67% of GDP in the local economy, while in Brazil, this share was 24% in the same period (IBGE, 2018a).This participation has fallen over time, aggravated by the fact that, according to the UN, industry imports rose from 16.5% in 2003 to 24% in 2016 (ONUBR, 2017).
Industrial sector employment is important for Manaus's economy, since it accounts for approximately 24% of the employed population, while for Brazil as a whole the rate is 17.5%.However, for both Brazil and Manaus, the labor market share of the manufacturing industry has fallen over the years (RAIS, 2018).
Employment within the companies established in the MID (Manaus Industrial District) drastically declined in the first half of the 1990s, when approximately 76.8 thousand workers in 1990 fell to 37.7 thousand in 1993.The number of workers fluctuated between 40 and 50 thousand up until 2003, when it returned to the same level as in 1990.The average size of companies in the sector in Manaus has decreased, with the lowest number recorded in the period under study (Table 2).
The recovery period continued in the following ten years, ending in 2017 with 79,000 workers.Such a result is due to the growth in the Brazilian economy and the policy adopted by SUFRAMA.In an attempt to attract more investment (specifically from Asia), Suframa encouraged the shortening of the supply chain, established a foreign trade partnership, and carried out trade promotion events (Brito, 2017).
From 2000, the proportion of workers effectively employed in the ZFM increased, reaching 92% of the total, causing a decrease in temporary workers, thus pointing to a more stable productive framework (table 1).Outsourcing remained stable at 5%; thus, production support activities were maintained externally.The proportion of women employed in the ZFM was more than 40% in the first half of the 1990s.After that, it fell and remained at around 35%.
The industry, as pointed out by ONUBR (2017), is relevant in the generation of jobs with greater value-added, particularly in the most populated regions, such as the city of Manaus.The value-added per worker in the ZFM tended to grow in the period, with short term fluctuations, registering the lowest value in the first half of the 2000s (table 1).
Also, industrial wages became more stable over time, contrary to the service sector.The average industrial wage in Manaus tended to increase in the period, with the maximum value registered in the second half of the 1990s.This value was only registered again from the second half of the 2010s (table 1).
Figure 1 shows the concentration of workers earning between two and four minimum wages (approximately 45% of workers) in the 1990s.From the 2000s onward, there was a fall in the share of workers in this pay range, with a progressive increase of those with lower wages.In the last years, approximately 60% of workers in the PID earned up to two minimum wages.An overall reduction in wages followed the recovery in employment in the industrial district in the 2000s resulting from the reorganization of production towards more simple tasks."In other words, the recovery in employment from 2010 was accompanied by a lowering of wages, in terms of minimum wages, despite their increase in nominal value (Lima & Valle, 2013, p.82).According to Brito (2017), differences between the sectors in the ZFM complete the picture.For example, in the motorcycle segment, where there is a greater demand for more qualified workers, 80% of employees are male.In the household appliances subsector, which is more labor-intensive, less-qualified workers are required and the workforce is mostly female.Average female remuneration albeit increasing over the years, still stands, according to recent figures, at 30% less than the average male remuneration (table 1), in line with the national sector trends (RAIS, 2018).
Thus, the industrial sector's reduced participation in generating jobs and hiring at lower wages puts more workers in a vulnerable position, particularly in Manaus.As highlighted by Ferreira and Botelho (2014), there is an abundant supply of cheap labor in this city.Such labor force profile impacts the population quality of life that, since the 1990s, has registered an increase in wage inequality as highlighted by the growth in the Gini index from 0.56 to 0.61 (PNUD, 2013).
Among the employment challenges outlined by the ILO (2019, p. 41), the need for "revitalizing collective bargaining" stands out.Thus, the results in table 1 indicate a low and decreasing union representation in Manaus.The union experience describes a much more critical situation locally than nationally: the difference between local and national averages increased from over 3 p.p. in the first half of the 2000s to 6 p.p. in recent years (IBGE, 2018b).
Decent work conditions also include workplace safety.In this sense, our research shows an extremely precarious situation.At the beginning of the 2000s, the local rate of work accidents was in line with the Brazilian average.However, this picture had worsened in recent years reaching a gap of 8 p.p.: when the national average was 18.1 accidents per 1000 employees and the local average hit 26.8.
Considering SUFRAMA's action to foster regional growth and recovery in the 2000s, Brito (2017)   The growth in the number of researchers working in the industry is one of the targets suggested to meet the UN's sustainable development goals, since researchers improve technological capacity in industrial segments.To achieve SDG 9, the ONUBR (2017) recognizes that industrial modernization is important for social and environmental reasons.It is considered "fundamental so productive processes can rationally utilize scarce natural resources and reduce the generation of negative environmental externalities" (ONUBR, 2017, p. 80), which increases efficiency and consequently, competitiveness.
To a certain extent, the features of the industry in Manaus are by abundant and cheap labor, net imports of technological inputs from Asia, and new investment cycles limited by the cost and adverse economic conditions, making its capacity obsolete (Pimentel, 2002;Giatti et al. 2011;Ferreira & Botelho, 2014).This obsolescence of the industry is not only a problem for the local municipality, but for Brazilian industry as a whole, as highlighted by the ONUBR (2017).
Regarding payments received by the highest-paying jobs, the result obtained was similar to that observed for the lowest-paying occupations, as shown in figure 3. The proportion of workers who receive more than ten minimum wages has decreased.Despite the increase in the number of researchers in the manufacturing industry, the number of workers earning up to 10 minimum wages has increased.
In short, the principal results of the selected indicators allow us to identify continuities and specific promising changes.The availability of cheap labor supply continues to be critical element in the organizational choices made by companies in the ZFM, as evidenced by the growing concentration of workers in the lower pay range.
On the other hand, incentives to science and technology, by attracting researchers and R&D professionals, have the potential to stimulate innovative techniques in environmentally and socially sustainable production processes.
The current policy on R&D incentives is both the government's answer to new challenges faced by the PID and the certification of how, even after almost four decades, local factories still require public support to face national and international competition.

CONCLUSIONS
The ZFM was established to reduce regional disparities observed in Brazil in the 1950s.This was followed by adopting measures that focused on economic development and, consequently, populating the Brazilian Northern region.The on-going measures comprise mechanisms for attracting companies from the industrial sector, which could also benefit from the abundance of cheap labor in the region.
Since then, the industrial district has played a significant role in creating jobs and encouraging economic and populational growth in Manaus.Its growth, however, was a result of public policies that focused exclusively on the economic dimension.The city of Manaus, as noted in the literature review and in the results section, suffered adverse consequences in the urbanization process, income distribution, and quality of life.In other words, the public policies adopted, which aimed to build an industrial sector, were insufficient to promote sustained development in the city.dos Rios Amambai, Iguatemi e Ivinhema no Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul

5
A relevant finding related to employment is the increasing share of industrial workers in lower pay ranges in recent years, including those in occupations of higher value added.This fact explains the evolution of the average real wage, its peak in the second half of the 1990s and the slow recovery in the following years.This scenario is worse when one observes the gender issue on the job market.Although the average remuneration of women has progressed over time, it still represents less than 70% of the that earned by men.
The 2030 Agenda stated on two of its goals the promotion of fair opportunities for men and women in the job market and the importance of industrial employment on this process.ZFM has not presented satisfactory evolution of its social and economic indicators in the light of the two SDG analyzed.
The ZFM's experience clearly shows the importance of public policy to stimulate development: from its creation as an area of regional development, going through the crises in the 90's -a result of the neoliberal macroeconomic policy -up to the recent local policy to stimulate R&D.Its innovation level is still incipient but, if it is possible to associate the economic potential of innovation to advances in the quality of life and natural resource management, the free trade zone is heading in the desired direction.
The present analysis was based on sustainability indicators, and it shows that sustainable development goals are an important guideline to assess the quality of development at a regional level.Given the specific nature of the ZFM and its strong relationship with government policy, the SDGs can also be used to monitor public policy results.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Evolution of effective labor in the ZFM according to pay range (in minimum wages, m.w.), 1990-2018 Source: Authors' elaboration based on SUFRAMA data.
points to the incentives to science and technology by establishing research and innovation centers such as the Nokia Institute, the Paulo dos Anjos Feitoza Foundation and the Uso de Equações de Pedotransferência (PTF) para Estimativa da Densidade do Solo nas Bacias Hidrográficas dos Rios Amambai, Iguatemi e Ivinhema no Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul ___________________________________________________________________________ Rev. Gest.Soc.Ambient.| Miami | v.18.n.2 | p.1-22 | e0xxx | 2024.3 Amazonian Biotechnology Center.The increase in the number of researchers and professionals involved in research since 2003 can be seen in figure 2.

Table 2 .
Goal 9 (UN): Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Target