Why Regional Equilibrium Matters

Regional disparities—whether in infrastructure, healthcare, or economic opportunities—can undermine social cohesion and hinder national progress. In Iran, for instance, uneven development has led to significant imbalances, with the western regions thriving while the eastern areas lag behind. Our research aims to bridge these gaps by providing a measurable, actionable approach to regional planning.

Key Findings from the Study

A Five-Pillar Framework:

We identified five main criteria essential for evaluating regional equilibrium:

•         Cultural and Social (e.g., literacy rates, education access).
•         Industrial (e.g., industrial workshops, energy consumption).
•         Demographic and Economic (e.g., employment rates, GDP per capita).
•         Physical and Infrastructural (e.g., mobile connectivity, road networks).
•         Health and Treatment (e.g., doctor-to-population ratios, hospital beds).

    These criteria, broken into 60 sub-criteria, offer a granular view of regional strengths and weaknesses.

Quantifying Progress:

    Using direct indicators (e.g., number of active mobile lines, general practitioners per capita), we demonstrated how to quantify disparities. For example:

        A rise in mobile connectivity from 6% (2016) to 22% (2017) in Iran signaled improved infrastructure.

        Health sector metrics, like the ratio of healthcare workers to population, revealed critical gaps needing intervention.

Expert-Driven Weighting:

    To prioritize actions, we incorporated expert opinions to weight each criterion. This ensures policies align with the most urgent regional needs.

Implications for Policymakers

Our framework isn’t just theoretical—it’s a practical toolbox for governments and NGOs to:

•     Diagnose inequalities using measurable indicators.
•     Allocate resources efficiently based on data-driven priorities.
•     Track progress over time, ensuring accountability.

Beyond Iran: A Global Blueprint

While tailored to Iran’s context, our methodology is adaptable. Regions worldwide can customize the framework to their unique environmental and socio-economic conditions, fostering equitable growth everywhere.

Conclusion

Regional equilibrium isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity for sustainable development. Our study provides a roadmap to turn this vision into reality, empowering stakeholders to build balanced, just, and thriving communities.

Call to Action

Explore the full study here and join the conversation: How can your region benefit from this framework? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Keywords: Regional planning, Iran development, spatial inequality, sustainable growth, policy framework.

About the Authors:

    Ehsan Dorostkar: Ph.D Urbanism, Department of Urbanism, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

    Mahsa Najarsadeghi: PhD Urbanism, Department of Urbanism, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University (SRBIAU), Tehran, Iran.

Acknowledgments: We thank the Statistics Center of Iran and all collaborators for their invaluable data and insights.

This post summarizes our open-access article in GeoJournal (2022). DOI: 10.1007/s10708-022-10641-4.

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