Economy

Nowadays, empowerment is being considered as one of the most applicable ways regarding development achievement. This is more applied to vulnerable rural peasants. It is argued that development without empowerment considerations in general namely as far as the rural settlers are concerned is an incomplete concept. Targeted subsidy could be very influential regarding empowerment of the rural settlers which is the main contribution of this paper. The research method has applied as well as analytical and descriptive nature. Data gathering was done through both survey and documentation procedure. It is followed by distributing questionnaire and conduction of personal interviews of household heads. As such, 10 villages (35%) out of 28 villages located in Jaider district of Poldokhtar were selected. Furthermore, 80 households were interviews via random stratified sampling technique. This is followed by application of SPSS and Wilcoxon non-parametric statistical test. This study suggests that there exists positive relationship between the received targeted subsidy and economic empowerment level of the rural settlers. That is one could observe relativity high purchasing power, increase in saving, reduction of poverty and increase in household welfare. However, the reductions in arable land, as well as decrease in agricultural investment level, high inflation and mortgages are among the main important negative impacts.

It is being argued that rural tourism is considered as a prominent activity with respect to rural development. This industry is known as invisible export by economists. Tourism as a broad activity is associated with some major economic, social and environmental. It further argues that tourism planning demands identification of these impacts as far as the host community is concerned. This in turn accentuates sustainable tourism development. This study aims to investigate the impact of tourism upon Rijab resort of Kermanshah as a host community. Sample siege amounted to be 270. As such 200 questionnaires were gathered using random sampling technique. Principle component results indicate the tourism development bears four major consequences including income generation, environmental problems, cultural development, and reduction of social capital. The result of this study provides some recommendation for tourism bodies. These related organizations could strengthen positive impacts and mitigate negative consequences.

Regional development is one of those issues that have attracted lots of attentions by program-makers, especially the regional ones. A study on various levels of the major criterions including those of economic, social, cultural and health, particularly at regional level, is useful to determine the position of different regions, as it requires special considerations in regional level as well as determining conditions of national adaptation and conformity. So, as a country with various levels of development in different provinces, the rate of development of the cities and areas within a province cannot be the same. It may sometimes happen that due to the heterogeneous spatial distribution of development resources and different factors of economic, social and natural areas in rural districts of a province we cannot find any proper process of development. It seems that in the province of Ardabil, inequality and imbalances in optimal distribution of resources has caused the problem of concentration of facilities and services in the city dominated area that will consequently lead to the divergence and development gap among different regions. This is despite the fact that a little number of researches has done to determine the level of development of rural districts using different models and their integration as well as using the latest census results.

This paper presents a practical article using descriptive analytical method. In order to collect basic information on the topic of different documentary methods based on library have been used. By documentaries methods collected theoretical principles related to the subject of the research and indexes. In this regard, due to the confronting limitations, we relied on to the determination of 13 indicators and variables in the field of infrastructure development. After collecting and processing information and required data in Excel, development levels of villages was calculated by means of multi-criteria decision making methods of TOPSIS, VIKOR, SAW and composite index of human development (HDI). In the following investigations done, Kapland method was used to achieve a consensus for the classification of rural districts. Finally, the results were illustrated in the form of maps using GIS to enable better analysis of spatial development in the province.

The study and comparison of rural districts in various aspects of economic, cultural, physical and spatial can significantly help Planners and policy makers in villages to take the right steps in the process of decision making and implementation of appropriate programs to provide them as many chances as possible to reduce regional inequalities. It is noteworthy that, currently, there are several statistical and cartographic methods of micro and macro ranking of rural districts providing different results as outputs. Thus, using new methods, comparing them with each other and choosing the best one is a matter of particular importance. In this study, after examining rural districts of Ardabil Province in terms of its underlying indicators, the following results were obtained. Results from ranking of rural districts in terms of different levels indicate that we should make a cautious use of multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM). The mere use of one or more quantitative model cannot reveal the reality of a society. Because, as we have already seen, TOPSIS, VIKOR, SAW, and HDI model have presented different results. For example, the highest level of development in TOPSIS model is dedicated to the rural districts of Mahmudabad, South Vilkij and Palnga. While in other models the highest level of development belongs to (rural districts of Kalkhoran, Eastern Angot and down Brznd in VIKOR), (rural districts of Eastern, southern and western Kishlak in HDI), (rural districts of Eastern Kalkhoran, and Eastern Khandbyl in SAW). Furthermore, using these four models showed different results in final ratings. As, the lowest level of development belongs to (the rural districts of Sabalan, Western Angot and down Brznd in TOPSIS), (the rural districts of Plnga, Kishlak Reza Qoli and low Brznd in VILOR), (the rural eastern districts of Minabad and Kalkhoran in HDI) and (the rural districts of western, eastern and southern Kishlak in SAW). It should be mentioned that the rural district of down Brznd has occupied the final ranking place just in the two models of TOPSIS and VIKOR. Eventually, by the use of the composite model of kapland we have resolved the problem and achieve a final ranking. Results from this model indicate that rural districts of Southern Senjed, Central Arshagh, and Eastern Angot have the highest and Arjestan, Alvarus, and Sabalan have the lowest level of development.

Sustainable development is actually a process towards sustainability. It can be conceptually classified within other concepts such as social reorganization, transition to a better future, conserving the quality of the environment, people empowerment, creating new capacities, and respecting indigenous knowledge and information. All these concepts are considered to be the main axis of sustainable development by contributing to the elimination of the need of new generation, regarding the need of future generations.

Hence, sustainable rural development is a multidimensional process that can come off through the bottom-up approach and ongoing, shared use of local supply and resources. "Social capital" is one of the most important social components and a basic aspect of local sustainable development. Social and economic capitals can strongly affect the trends of community-based management of villages. By amplifying the capitals and their optimization, their effect on rural development will be promoted.

In this research, regarding the fact that social capital plays a key role in the realization of rural development, we have used social network analysis method before and after the implementation of a community-based project of rural management to investigated different aspects of bonding and bridging social capital of rural micro-credit fund in Bstaq village of Srayan county, South Khorasan. In this village, mobilizing financial resources has been already done by the establishment of micro-credit funds. It is obvious that the physical sustainability of economic structure of the Fund requires the sustainability of social capital in local network of its beneficiaries. Therefore, social capital needs to get evaluated over time among members of rural micro-credit fund.

Social analysis and assessment of relations between members of rural micro-credit fund of Bastag, in the form of various subgroups, were done using the approach of social network analysis. Efficiency and impact of RFLDL project has been already evaluated for all the indicators and studied cases in two times, one before the implementation of the project in 1390 and one after that in 1394. We have first identified members of microcredit fund in Bastag using survey research and the study of documents in RFLDL project. Then, a network analysis questionnaire was developed and completed doing direct observations and interviews with different individuals. Rural micro-credit fund of Bastag consists of 13 groups. These include Aba-Abdellah, Azahra, Imam Reza, Amir-al- momenin, Sar-Allah, Javad-al-Aeme, Abolfazl, Sahbalzman, Kosar, Musa ibn Ja'far alMahdi, vali-e-asr, and Yas-e-nabi groups. The number of people who completed the questionnaires are 190 people among the group members and 13 heads of the funds. The head of the groups are determined by members in a local election. Data analysis has been done by analyzing and investigating the bonding relations between the group members or bridging communications between leaders in the form of rural micro-credit funds. Network analysis used in this research is a method of full network in which all network members are examined. Finally, collected data were analyzed in UCINET 6.507 software and then the intended indicators were analyzed as well.

Discussion and conclusion
The most significant ides contributing to the establishment of micro-credit fund is to achieve development goals to decrease poverty, mobilize financial resources of rural communities and organize local societies in aligned groups. In this research, we have examined trust-partnership bonds and evaluated various indicators of density, reciprocity links, transition and average geodesic distance using social network analysis method to assess bonding and bridging social capital between members or heads of the groups or between leaders of micro-credit funds of Bastag located in Sarayan and studied in RFLDL project.
Results show that the average density of trust-partnership bonds between members of rural micro-credit funds is high. In the next step of doing RFLDL project, the same indicator increased compared to before. In this village, two groups named Kosar and Azahra have been reported with moderate downwards density of trust- partnership bonds. In other groups this indicator is at its moderate upwards level. In Bastag, mutual trust is high and mutual partnership is up to the middle. The sustainability of communication networks and the institutionalization of various links in the village is assessed as moderate upward. This indicator is also high between the head groups of the village. After project reviews by accomplishing participating activities for rural sustainable development show more density between members of micro-credit fund comparing to before. However, respiratory was noticeably high between the head of the groups.
The velocity of Trust and Participation is high between the members of the Fund in the village of Bastaq. The amount has even increased more after the implementation of the project. The velocity of trust and partnership between the heads of micro-credit fund has respectively increased from 1 to 1.18 and 1.08 to 1.25. Furthermore, people linked together in the shortest possible time and at highest speed. Thanks to the great social :union: and solidarity among people, mobilization of social and financial resources will be possible at a higher speed. Considering the results of social capital assessment before and after the project, it can be said that RFLDL project acted successfully in building trust and creating good chances to strengthen the spirit of partnership and cooperation between members of the fund in Bastag.

 Introduction
Many villagers depened on palm farming, in the date palm tree-growing regions of Iran. Nonetheless, the date markets are facing many challenges for some reasons such as unsanitary, lack of sales market, lack or absence of maintenance industries, long-distance from production to factory, dispersion of villages, low product prices, climate incompatibility, lack of proper access to capital, high waste and sale of low value-added products to market intermidearies. These challenges in Makkoran region, one of the country's date-growing regions, are more than other places due to climatic and environmental constraints and infrastructure deficiencies.
Date palm farming activity in Makkoran region has many problems in terms of marketing, price, exports, and required infrastructure; thus, the date product of this region are exported by middlemen often in bulk and low added value to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates and large cities in the country.
Therefore, the present study, in response to this need, uses the actor-network theory of Latour, Callon, and Law (1986-2009), aiming to identify the processes of translating actions and the spatial relationships between actors as a theoretical lens because according to Latour view (1987) actors (human and non-human) are negotiating and translating each other's goals to make a connection. Therefore, the present study seeks to answer these questions: What actors are involved in the date market of the Makkoran region, and what are the existing and emerging spatial relationships between these actors? Is there a significant relationship between them? In translation processes which actors and spatial relations need membership, expulsion, or reform?

 Methodology
This research employed an exploratory-sequential mixed-methods research design. The statistical population is 17493 date palm farmers in Makkoran region. Sampling was performed via a purposive-probability sampling method to determine the sample size via the "data saturation" criterion in the qualitative stage, and the "representation" criterion in the quantitative stage. The sample size consisted of 111 date palm farmers and 16 related experts in the qualitative stage and 376 date palm farmers and 32 experts in the quantitative stage. Qualitative data were obtained through in-depth semi-structured interviews with date palm farmers and experts, and quantitative data were obtained through a questionnaire from date palm farmers and experts. Then, based on "sequential mixed-methods analysis," qualitative data were processed and analyzed using NVIVO software, and quantitative data were processed and analyzed using SPSS software. According to Latour's argument (1987), the " translation " method made the final analysis and inference.

Discussion and conclusion
Based on research findings, sales status and the price of the date product improves from south to north of Makkoran region. Hence, situational and climatic actors play a crucial role in product sales status and price change, especially Mazafati dates in the south part of the region. These actors may force date palm farmers to harvest early (at the Kharak stage) and reduce product prices. To achieve their goals and interests, human actors (date palm farmers and governments) inevitably align with the tendencies of non-human actors (such as geographical location and climate). Also, according to local date palm cultivars, which almost all of them need refrigeration, and depending on how it is accessed, date palm farmers to the refrigerator and the capital have changed the product's price. These two actors (refrigerator and capital) and date palm farmers have faced severe challenges and obstacles in terms of sales and product prices. Hence, date palm farmers inevitably sell their produce to brokers at low and insignificant prices. Of course, this is not a one-sided situation; but with the constructive support of the government, date palm farmers can play a more constructive and effective role in raising capital and creating the necessary refrigerator. They can reduce the power of the two agents of the refrigerator and capital by changing the palm cultivars (expanding the dry cultivars without the need for a refrigerator) or selling access to the refrigerator so they can sell their product at a reasonable price. This issue causes them to be present in the date market with more power and influence.
Nevertheless, in the current situation, the alliance of these two actors with other actors (space distance, transportation technology, road location) has led to the widespread influence of traders in the date market and has weakened its functions. The capital actor has a more prominent role in this regard, As it has been able to change the tendency of most date palm farmers to use a refrigerator and, to their detriment, to ally with brokers (predominantly local and regional brokers). Of course, the non-use of cold storage is not only related to capital but also situational and climatic actors in the south region. Also, due to a lack of proper access to capital, date palm farmers inevitably accept the rate offered by brokers; Local and regional brokers, in a solid alliance with telephone and capital actors, have prevented both major traders from entering the market and dragged the refrigerator into their network. Hence they have severed or severely shaken possible and necessary links between date palms and date palm farmers with target markets.
Thus, multiple spatial relations between actors (human and non-human) exist. Meanwhile, date brokers have conquered the date market to the detriment of producers by creating a strong network of spatial relations and have found role and agency as the key actors. Often weakness and inefficiency of the main actors (palms and government) and the alliance of capital and cold storage actors with brokers have led to such a detrimental consequence; however, these spatial relations are transformed by the participation of new actors (non-native palms, cold storage, etc.).
 

Introduction
Cities have profound effects on the surrounding rural areas, which are manifested in various environmental, social, economic and physical dimensions. Knowing the type of texture is necessary to measure the quantity of filled and empty areas, explore the quality of mass and space contiguity and identify the shape-spatial system for the regularity of filled and empty spaces. Agriculture can be the core of the space economy because it is the biggest attractor of labor in some regions and can create the most income and development. Since development is a multi-dimensional concept, which requires reorganization of the socio-economic system with it, examining the different levels and dimensions of development and knowing the differences in resources of different regions can be effective for planning. In this regard, the purpose of the present research is to measure and evaluate the desirability of peri-urban spaces for the agricultural development of rural settlements in Golestan Province.
Golestan Province, the study area of ​​this research, is a northern province that is distinguished in agriculture due to its geographical location. The importance of the agricultural sector for this province is because of the role of this sector in increasing the country's food security and prosperity. This calls for proper and accurate planning and agricultural development. 

Methodology
This research is a descriptive-analytical and applied study. The secondary data were collected from the agricultural statistics of the province in 2015. The statistical population of the study consists of 14 cities in Golestan Province based on the latest political-administrative divisions. For data analysis, we used WASPAS multi-criteria combined technique in Excel spreadsheet software, and Shannon's entropy was used to determine the weight of each index. ArcGIS was used to draw the maps.

Discussion and conclusion
The findings of this research echo the results of Kaderzadeh et al.'s studies (2016), entitled agricultural development of the cities of Kurdistan Province and confirm the difference between the cities of a province in indexes. And the indicators of development agricultural development. It also shows that most of the cities of the province are in an unfavorable situation in terms of sustainable agricultural development indicators. Also, the findings of Taqvi and Bahari (2013) regarding the distribution of the components of the development of the cities of Mazandaran Province, Sakhawat (2013) regarding the measurement of the development of the provinces of Iran, Fadeli (2014) about the inequality of development in the western provinces confirm the difference between the cities of the province in terms of development indicators. Considering the general results of this research and the placement of rural settlements in Gonbad and Gorgan Counties at the highest level of development, it can be seen that the most important factors affecting the development are the strong and concentrated urban economy and the labor force. And trained, high-quality soils with agricultural capabilities, the use of modern and efficient agricultural tools and equipment, abundant manpower, large area, especially Gonbad Kavus County, etc. The robust economic role of the cities of these two counties (Inche Broon for Gonbad Kavus County and Sohrkhankalate and Jalin for Gorgan County) is evident because they have attracted most of the services and infrastructures, and this has led to the lack of these services in rural areas. Given that in addition to increasing urbanization of the country in the future, it is inevitable to pay attention to rural settlements for balanced development and fair distribution of services based on the current situation of settlements. Fair planning and distribution of services is a must, which requires optimal investment in rural settlements for the realization of homogeneity, social justice and better living condition in different settlements.
 

Objective: The rural entrepreneurial ecosystem plays a pivotal role in stimulating entrepreneurship and employment in rural areas. By leveraging entrepreneurship in rural regions, it is possible to address the challenges faced by these areas and create dynamic and innovative economies. Despite favorable climatic, geographic, connectivity, and accessibility conditions, Alborz province has experienced inappropriate economic conditions in its rural areas in recent years, including rising unemployment rates, low economic participation rates, and income disparities between rural and urban households. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the status of the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alborz province as a key economic indicator.
Methods: This research was conducted within a quantitative research methodology. Data collection was carried out through a combination of library research and field surveys, with questionnaires being the primary tool in the field. The statistical population comprised the villages of Alborz province, from which a sample of 33 villages was selected. Using the Cochran formula, a sample size of 380 individuals was determined for completing the questionnaires. For data analysis, statistical tests such as chi-square, one-sample t-test, ANOVA, Duncan’s post hoc test, and Kriging interpolation were employed.
Results: The research findings indicate that the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alborz province is in a suboptimal state. Out of the ten key indicator groups examined, including business indicators, financial indicators, educational indicators, human capital indicators, support indicators, market and customer indicators, social indicators, cultural indicators, infrastructure indicators, and innovation, research, and development indicators, only two groups were found to be in a favorable condition, while the remaining eight groups were in an unfavorable state. Additionally, the geographical distribution of the rural entrepreneurial ecosystem's status varies across the province.
Conclusions: The presence of hard infrastructure such as access to transportation networks and urban centers is insufficient on its own to foster the development of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Concurrently, the development of soft infrastructure, including financial services, education, various support systems, human and social capital, and research and development, must also be prioritized.