Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS)
Quarterly

Designing a Model of Export Incentives for the Development of Iran's Exports: Grounded Theory Approach

Document Type : Article extracted from thesis

Authors

Javad Yahyapour 1
Mohammad Mahdi Barghi Osgouei 2
Behzad Salmani 2

1 Ph.D.student of Economics, Economic Science, Aras International Campus, University of Tabriz, Iran.

2 Professor,of the Faculty of Economics and Management, University of Tabriz, Iran

Abstract
Background and Objective: The Iranian economy's reliance on oil revenues has heightened its vulnerability to external shocks. Recent experiences with sharp declines in oil prices have demonstrated that an economy dependent on oil revenue is highly susceptible to global market fluctuations. Consequently, the development of non-oil exports has emerged as a fundamental strategy to mitigate economic vulnerability and establish a sustainable revenue stream. This strategy necessitates effective policy instruments, particularly export incentives. Therefore, the aim of this study is to design a model of export incentives to foster export development in Iran.
Methodology: The study encompasses two phases. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews were conducted with experts. In the quantitative phase, questionnaires were distributed and collected. The data utilized in this study pertain to recent years. The statistical population for the quantitative phase consists of active exporters registered with the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran and the Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture; official statistics estimate this population at approximately10,000 formal exporting firms. Following the derivation of the theoretical model in the qualitative phase, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between constructs and test the hypotheses.
Results and findings: The results indicate that five categories of export incentives-financial, informational, marketing, and operational incentives, as well as regulatory environment factors-have a positive and significant impact on export development. All primary research hypotheses were confirmed. The model's coefficient of determination was found to be 48.2%, indicating satisfactory explanatory power. Based on the performance importance analysis and the synthesis of statistical results, financial incentives ranked first in importance, followed-in descending order-by marketing incentives, operational incentives, informational incentives, and environmental regulations. This ranking can serve as a basis for resource allocation and policy prioritization in the export sector. Consequently, it can be concluded that the sustainable development of non-oil exports requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach; all dimensions of export incentives must be strengthened in an integrated manner. Furthermore, it is essential to consider Iran's specific contextual conditions, including sanctions and currency fluctuations. It is hoped that the findings of this research will contribute-however modestly-to improving the country's export policy and fostering the sustainable development of non-oil exports.

Keywords

Export incentives
export development
Iran
Subjects
 
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  • Receive Date 27 July 2026
  • Revise Date 08 September 2026
  • Accept Date 10 October 2026
  • First Publish Date 12 October 2026
  • Publish Date 20 February 2027

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