Russia has always had problems with the uneven development of regions. This is due to the country's large size, different socio-cultural factors, and the taxation system, which forces the regions to send most of the collected taxes to Moscow. This causes social tension, accelerates the widening of the economic gap between regions, and reduces the opportunities for regions in economic cooperation. This paper presents an assessment of the possibilities of correcting the current situation by creating special economic zones in the regions that can stimulate the development of the regional economy and infrastructure. The scientific novelty of the study is the development of a methodology for assessing the impact of SEZs on the regional economy by determining the share of SEZs in the economic indicators of the region, comparing them with those of other SEZs, and correlating the relationship between the volume of private investments of SEZs and various socio-economic indicators. The study's practical significance is to develop practical recommendations for developing and improving industrial-production-type SEZs to increase the rate of development of the Lipetsk region's economy.