Program and Development Research

Program and Development Research

Analyzing the Influencing Factors in the Ranking of Iran’s Provinces: An Economic and Sustainable Competitiveness Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Hamidreza Bahmanpour Khalesi 1
Behnaz Aminzadeh Goharrizi 2
1 PhD Candidate in Urban Planning, Urban Planning Faculty, Fine Arts College, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran, (Corresponding author).
2 Professor of Urban Planning, Urban Planning Faculty, Fine Arts College, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/pbr.2024.210254
Abstract
The intensification of globalization has driven fierce competition among regions to attract resources and capital. Traditionally, this competition was measured primarily by regional gross domestic product (GDP), often at the expense of significant environmental and social impacts. As these challenges have become more pressing globally, researchers have begun re-evaluating competitiveness through a sustainability lens.
This study develops a customized index to assess regional sustainable competitiveness in Iran. The proposed index integrates economic, environmental, and social factors to rank Iran's provinces comprehensively. The Delphi method and composite index approach are used to address two key questions: What defines regional sustainable competitiveness? and how can it be measured in Iran?
The findings reveal that Tehran Province consistently outperformed other provinces in both economic and sustainable competitiveness between 2016 and 2019. However, provinces ranking high in economic competitiveness but low in sustainable competitiveness risk undermining their long-term viability by depleting environmental and social resources.
Keywords
Regional Competitiveness
Sustainable Competitiveness
Economic Competitiveness
Sustainability
Composite Index

Subjects

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