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.

Marketing of agricultural products is being considered as one of the most fundamental and important measures for development in rural environments. As such, the identification of responsible factors for marketing of perishable products namely dairy products could facilitate marketing process and as a result diminish the associated problems in local communities. The identification of responsible and influential measures as well as the adjustment of their spatial distribution ,taking into account the temporal constraints and the nature of the products at different stages with regard to both traditional and semi modern producers is a very determinant action . This in turn is associated with time-costs losses issue, cutting the hands of the mediators, decrease in shipping costs in relation to distance decay function, increase in profits and enhancement of economic growth in rural areas. Therefore, the exact determination of responsible factors for facilitating dairy marketing networks as well as their spatial distribution in rural area is a prime objective of rural economic planning at different decision level. This study aims to identify the major responsible factors regarding dairy marketing networks with particular emphasis on geographic factors in Khodabandeh, Zanjan. This study is based on analyticaldescriptive method. It further supports the application of filling questionnaires by experts and analysis of variance. This study suggests that taking into account level of the analysis, functional-behavioral factor would consider as the most prominent factor regarding the dairy marketing network and its corresponding spatial distribution.