Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Parsa Riahi Dehkordi ¹
• Morteza Ghanbarzadeh Chaleshtori ²

¹ Strategic Planning specialist

² PhD student in Public Sector Economics, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Economics is the science of optimally allocating limited resources in the face of unlimited needs, which requires reliable information for prioritization. In development studies, the role and capacity of regions within the production system are key to achieving balanced growth. This study aimed to rank Iranian counties based on their contribution to value added. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the research covered all 457 counties in 2017 and 2020, with no sampling, as data were drawn from census statistics. The VIKOR decision-making method, Shannon entropy for weighting, and each county’s share of value added at constant prices relative to the national level were applied. Data sources included statistical tables of the Statistical Center of Iran and regional and county accounts. Findings showed that Tehran, Rey, and Mashhad counties consistently ranked highest, while Margon, Karkheh, and Angut ranked lowest. At the provincial level, two ranking methods were used. In the direct method, Tehran, Khuzestan, and Bushehr ranked top, with Ilam, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, and North Khorasan at the bottom. In the indirect method, Qom, Tehran, and Bushehr led, while Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, South Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchestan ranked lowest. The results reveal a concentration of production in specific regions, underscoring the need for regional policies to promote balanced development. These findings can guide policymakers in resource allocation and regional economic planning.

Keywords

• Value Added
• Multi-Criteria Decision Making
• VIKOR
• Shannon Entropy
• Provincial and County-Level Ranking

Main Subjects

• urban economy