Abstract
Regional development in many parts of the country faces challenges such as spatial inequalities, weak infrastructure, and planning inefficiencies, and Ilam Province is no exception. In such conditions, spatial planning, as a scientific approach to organizing space, can play an effective role in improving development efficiency. The main objective of this research is to investigate the impact of different dimensions of spatial planning on regional development inefficiency in Ilam Province. This study is applied-developmental in terms of objective and descriptive-analytical in nature. The required data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on environmental-physical, social, economic, and institutional indicators. For data analysis, the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method and AMOS software were employed, and the model’s fit was evaluated using standard indices. Furthermore, Cronbach’s alpha was used to measure the reliability of the instrument, and factor loadings and related tests were utilized for construct validity. Research findings indicate that various dimensions of Spatial Planning have a significant impact on reducing the inefficiency of regional development. Among these, the environmental-physical dimension has the most significant impact, while the institutional dimension has the least direct impact, although its indirect effects are noteworthy. Furthermore, the overall construct of Spatial Planning demonstrated a strong positive influence on improving regional development. The results suggest that attention to the principles of Spatial Planning, strengthening infrastructure, upgrading services, and improving the quality of governance can pave the way for more balanced development in Ilam province.