Economy

Spatial distributions of rural settlements in Iran represent an imbalanced nature. The major objective of this study is to investigate the spatial patterns of Iranian rural settlements using certain indicators and indices .It further tries to propose a model regarding the analysis of spatial imbalances. This study further supported by application of modifiable areal unit problem(MAUP) suitable for aggregated data. It consists of both general as well as local scale pertaining to aggregation problem. Chosen area for the purpose of combination represent an arbitrary nature .However; areal units can be meaningful in displaying the same base level data. For the purpose of modeling and selection of basic unit, the hexagonal model long associated with geography is used. The spatial statistical methods were the global measure of Moran's I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association(LISA). While Moran's I provides information on the overall spatial distribution of the data, LISA provides information on types of spatial association at the local level. LISA statistics can also be used to identify influential locations in spatial association analysis. Spatial analysis can identify imbalances with respect to settlement distribution. This study suggests that different indices will hold different results regarding spatial rural imbalances.

The employment problem and the manpower in general, is a matter of great importance in economic issues. In the economy of Iran, employment is one of the main concerns of the economic policy makers. The analysis of the employment situations and its structure all over the country requires at thorough knowledge of the capacities and potential power of the regions and its combination in the areas, for an equal and balanced planning and employment in every region and areas. In order to plan and achieve the rural economic development, population is most important and even the main factor to consider, because the quantitative and qualitative changes in population has significant effects on this procedure and furthermore one of the most important issues about the population which should be considered is the employment for the provision of manpower employment can be so effective towards achievement of every countries’ development, thus the employment issue is a key and strategic issue in every economic society. Employment is the factor that gets all the mental and physical abilities of man to be applied that result in relaxation and obedience between people due to the disappearance of unemployment, preventing the migration, the use and development of exceptional talents and rise in the national gross income. The villages of the country having a lot of active force which can play an important role in the economic development, studying the spatial distribution of employment in the rural regions and planning based on that can be a way of economic development of the villages and results in the economic prosperity of the country. Since the economic activities (agriculture, industry, services) in general, and particularly the resources and facilities, have an undesirable concentration from the spatial distribution aspect, in Iran, every region requires especial programs according to its characteristics, in this regard we should identify the situation of different regions based on the suitable scientific methods, before any actions. Therefore, this paper is developed to evaluate the employment status of the major departments and groups of activity and their spatial distribution in the country. To this aim, basic parts which were exporting their workforce are identified divided into counties, using the locative quotient (LQ) index.

The purpose of this study was to understand the conditions of the regions and the major groups of economic activity (agriculture, industry and services) in the rural parts of the country. The statistical sample for this study includes 394 counties which statistics were gathered during the 2011 general census of people and housing. Using the locative quotient (LQ), the basic areas or the exporters of the working force were identified in the country and the state, and the GIS software has been used to prepare the map of major activity groups.

The results show that in agriculture, 55% of the counties of the country (215 counties) belong to the basic and the workforce exporting regions that mainly are in the West, North West and South East of the country. Since the suitable climate and soil in these regions, we can see most employment in the agricultural part in a way that they can send agricultural workforce to other regions. These regions have also an important role in the national economic development and by guiding the investments towards their agricultural part; we can help it to be more efficient in the economy of the country. In the industrial part, 26% of the counties of the country (103counties) are more than one which can be counted as basic and workforce exporting regions and are mainly is located in the states of Tehran, Mazandaran, Qom, Qazvin and the central and south parts of the country. These states have the potential to send industrial workforce to other regions, and because of the proximity to the capital, the existence of agricultural transformative industries and in some regions possession of the mines, these states have the most industrial employment in the country. These areas have a great part in the economy of the country and by financing this part and creation of employment opportunities and industrialization of the villages, their industry will prosper, that results in an industrial growth in the national economy. In the services part, 49 percent of the counties of the country (195 counties) have a locative quotient greater than one and are categorized as workforce exporter regions that are mainly located in the central, east north, west north and the south parts of the country. The reasons for the tendency of these areas of service activities include proximity to the borders and unsuitable natural conditions in some regions.

Countries with a rentier economy are usually dependent on the export of raw materials. Such countries have a centralized political system and inefficient bureaucracy that incorporate a broader administrative division in one or two cities. Dependence on the global economy (Endogenous Development), and the lack of a democratic political system, provides good conditions of centralization in different aspects.

It seems that despite all the efforts made after the revolution in Iran to remove deprivation and establish regional balance, there are still examples of regional imbalances. Finding an appropriate answer to this fundamental question of "How big and effective has been the political economic model governing our country?" we have tried to present a spatial analysis of Iran's approach to the political economy of the last decade to explain the role of political economy of space on regional imbalance as assessing regional balance of the country.

The survey done to get applied for observing planning and accounting systems of political economy in Iran, using descriptive-analytical and correlation methods.

In order to complete research database, the preliminary data collected by examining statistics and other statistical documents in the Statistical Center of Iran and Islamic parliament research center. The data have been sorted in the form of 28 indicators and variables. GEO DaTM software was used for drawing maps exhibiting Percentage distribution of wealth and power in different parts of the country. To determine rating and index score of the political economy of space a combined method of TOPSIS and Entropy has been used. The spatial autocorrelation of political economy and regional imbalance was calculated by Local Moran statistics in GIS 10. Estimating composite index of equilibrium level and regional inequality we have used COPRAS, a multiple criteria decision making model. This model was offered because of the presence of some positive and negative variables. Finally, in order to investigate the presence of any relation between political economy of space and regional inequalities ruling Iran and for the identification of the types of relations, linear regression in SPSS19 has been used.

Planning and decision- making are considered as systematic cause and effect of the political economy governing the implementation of space projects and programs. A question to which every restored geographical environment may confront is that "due to the time, how can the pattern and operation of political economy of space affect the structure of different areas to make them balanced or imbalanced? How much is the range of its effectiveness? And how can it change the direction?" In this way, Iran has been tested and analyzed to find a reasonable answer to this question.

Housing has been one of the most essential needs of human life for a long time and it is one of the most important symbols of civilization and culture. Providing a shelter which is safe and secure is everyone’s ambition and to reach to this aim, human beings have used many different methods and technologies to improve the quality and quantity of housing. Through time passage and change of structure and function and also through meeting new requirements, if physical texture which is a symbol of biological and cultural way of living could not accommodate with time and place conditions of that society, this problem causes lack of development and as a result, leads to physical chaos. These spatial developments in rural environment, problems and the resulted failures in settlement methods and following that effects of urban environments on spatial-physical texture of villages have caused many changes. Therefore, to reach to the optimal condition in spatial dimension, codification of a comprehensive plan in housing sector requires recognition and analysis in vast dimensions and awareness of quantity status of housing indicators in regional planning process. So, reaching to an optimal condition in housing, as a developmental indicator is essential. This study aims to study rural housing indicators throughout the country in different dimensions (infrastructural and facilities dimension, structural strength and health facilities) and tries to determine their spatial levels; after recognizing the differences between regions, this study provide solutions for improvement of effective factors to blur spatial inequalities.

This study is a theoretical-practical study and uses a descriptive-analytical method. For data collection, documentary method has been used.

Data includes the results of general census of population and housing in 1390 according to each province separately. 41 variables are studied in this study and they are classified according to four general indicators. Following that, for giving weight to criteria, 20 experts commented and statistical analysis has been done by using factor analysis model and Fuzzy TOPSIS model. 41 variables are classified according to four main indicators including infrastructure and facilities, structural strength, facilities and heath care facilities).

In the process of determining spatial level, recognizing and analyzing the facilities, obstacles, it is important to determine the development level of the regions regarding the level of satiation and deprivation. Basically, to reach development, determining spatial level is considered as a fundamental change and its realization is related to coordination between different dimensions. Because the studied issue is very important, this study considers the related indicators using Fuzzy TOPSIS model and factor analysis method; according to the studies and calculations it is proven that rural residents in Iran’s provinces have a type of inequality. In other words, spatial distribution is not equal in all residents; because in rural regions of the following provinces are at the highest level of satiation: Mazandaran (0.460), Isfahan (0.464), Alborz (0.455) and Tehran (0.449); rural regions of the following provinces are at lower level of satiation regarding the rural housing indicators: Sistan and Baluchestan (0.265), South Khorasan (0.267), Hormozgan (0.267) and Kerman (0.270). Therefore, codification of a comprehensive plan for housing, especially rural housing, requires complete recognition and deep analysis in vast dimensions about housing and factors that affect it. It should be said that although these indicators are key elements in determining the quality and quantity of housing and each indicator has a special position in housing planning system, but existence of each indicator is not the necessary condition for improving the quantity level of housing. So in discussing about housing quality, sufficient conditions require that all indicators be together. Generally, the status of housing indicators in some provinces create various social and cultural problems in micro and macro level of the society, so precaution and support are the best strategies in this matter. So, for directing future development in these villages toward a sustainable development and putting the existing problems away, it is necessary to implement effective and practical planning to improve housing status in these residents; and less developed regions should be considered more than more developed ones.