Spatial Analysis of Economic Indicators among Iranian-Islamic Provinces and Ethnicities

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Visiting Lecturer, Department of Urban Planning, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Kurdistan, Kurdistan, Iran.

Abstract
The first step in spatial development planning is understanding how economic, social, cultural, and other opportunities are distributed across different geographical regions. A focus on this aspect can enhance service delivery and promote greater balance between regions. The objective of the present study is to spatially analyze ethnic development in Iran, with particular emphasis on economic indicators. This research is applied in purpose and descriptive-analytical in nature. The data required for the study were collected from library and archival sources, the Statistical Yearbook of Iran for 2022, and the most recent Iranian National Census conducted in 2016. Using these sources, data for 22 key economic indicators were gathered. In this study, Shannon entropy, the coefficient of variation, and the VIKOR method were employed for weighting, dispersion analysis, and development level determination, respectively. ArcGIS software was used to generate maps and visualize the results. The findings of the study reveal a lack of balanced economic development among Iran’s ethnic groups. The analyses show that, in terms of economic development, the Persian and Azeri ethnic groups—with Q-values of 0 and 0.5828, respectively—are the most economically developed, while the Turkmen and Baluchi ethnic groups, with Q-values of 0.9007 and 0.9978, respectively, are the least developed. Overall, the results suggest that the economic development status of Iran's ethnic groups exhibits a weak correlation with social and spatial justice. This highlights the need for effective and efficient planning and interventions to achieve balanced development across different geographical regions.

Keywords


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