Journal of Sustainable Urban & Regional Development Studies (JSURDS)

Abstract Introduction and Objective: Inflation, as one of the most significant economic variables, has profound effects on the economic development process of countries. This study examines the mutual impacts of inflation and aspects of economic development in Iran and Iraq, aiming to analyze the relationships between the inflation rate and various economic variables such as production, agriculture, industry, dependency, education, and health.
Method: This study analyzes the impact of inflation on different dimensions of economic development using long-term data from 1990 to 2024 for both countries. The data were collected from reliable sources such as the World Bank and were evaluated using tests like the Dickey-Fuller test, Johansen cointegration test, and Granger causality test to assess the relationships between the variables. Regression models were also employed to examine the effects of inflation on each dimension of economic development.
Findings: The results indicate that all economic indicators in both countries are stationary, and there are significant relationships between the inflation rate and economic variables. In Iran, an increase in the inflation rate is associated with a slight increase in GDP, but it has considerable negative effects on the agriculture, health, and education sectors. In Iraq, inflation is considered a driver of economic growth, although its negative effects on health and education are also evident.
Conclusion: This research emphasizes that controlling inflation can contribute to improving economic conditions and achieving sustainable development in Iran and Iraq. Furthermore, the findings of this study can serve as a valuable reference for policymakers and economic analysts in formulating effective strategies for inflation management and supporting economic growth. Given the profound impact of inflation fluctuations on human and economic development, further research is necessary to gain a better understanding of these complex relationships.

Abstract زمینه و هدف: این پژوهش با استفاده از برونداد مدل‌های CMIP6 و دو سناریو SSP2-4.5 و SSP5-8.5، روند تغییرات و ناهنجاری دمای میانگین بیشینه و کمینه ایران را طی سه دوره زمانی آینده نزدیک، میانه و دور بررسی و پیش‌نگری می‌نماید.
روش شناسی: ابتدا 15 مدل از مجموعه مدل‌های CMIP6 انتخاب و اعتبار سنجی و صحت سنجی مدل‌ها و مقایسه آنها با داده‌های مشاهداتی 71 ایستگاه هواشناسی، با استفاده از شاخص KGE و سایر روش‌های ارزیابی خطا انجام شد. جهت مقیاس‌کاهی و تصحیح خطا از نرم افزار Cmhyd استفاده شد.
نتایج و یافته‌ها: بررسی روند تغییرات دمای میانگین بیشینه و کمینه با استفاده از خروجی مدل NorESM2-MM و آزمون تعیین روند من- کندال، حاکی از روند صعودی تحت هر دو سناریو و در 100 درصد ایستگاه‌ها با سطح اطمینان 99 درصد می‌باشد. انتظار می‌رود دمای میانگین بیشینه تحت دو سناریو SSP2-4.5 و SSP5-8.5 با آهنگ 24/0 و 65/0 و دمای میانگین کمینه نیز با آهنگ 21/0 و 60/0 درجه سلسیوس در هر دهه افزایش داشته باشند. همچنین بیشترین افزایش دمای بیشینه و کمینه، تحت سناریو SSP5-8.5 و در آینده دور به ترتیب با 2/3 و 6/4 درجه سلسیوس رخ خواهد داد. با توجه به نتایج، بیشترین ناهنجاری مثبت، در دماهای کمینه مشاهده شد، به طوری که در تمام سال‌های دوره پیشنگری تا سال 2100، دمای میانگین کمینه نسبت به دوره پایه افزایش خواهد داشت، در حالی که طی بعضی از سال‌های آینده نزدیک، امکان کاهش دمای میانگین بیشینه نسبت به دوره پایه وجود دارد.
نتیجه گیری: نتیجه‌گیری می‌شود تا انتهای قرن حاضر دمای میانگین بیشینه و کمینه در بیشتر مناطق کشور روند صعودی خواهد داشت، که البته ناهنجاری‌های مثبت در دماهای کمینه بسیار مشهودتر از دمای بیشینه می‌باشد. همچنین تحت سناریوهای با انتشار بالای گازهای گلخانه‌ای، ناهنجاری‌های دمایی مثبت شدیدتر و آهنگ تغییرات بیشتر خواهد بود.

Abstract Background and Objective: In recent years, with the increasing growth of the urban population and pressures from environmental, social, and economic issues, the theory of the "sustainable smart city" has become one of the key concepts in urban studies. The purpose of this research is to conduct a systematic comparative review of studies conducted in the field of the sustainable smart city at the level of Iran and the world, in order to identify and analyze theoretical patterns, commonalities and differences, as well as existing research gaps in this field.
Methodology:This study was conducted using the systematic review method with a comparative approach.The research population consisted of 31 scientific articles published in reputable domestic and international databases between 2017 and 2024, which were selected using standard methods and subjected to qualitative content analysis.
Results and Findings:The findings indicate that at the global level, the sustainable smart city paradigm is understood as a multidimensional and dynamic concept in which technology serves to achieve broader goals such as environmental sustainability, social justice, participatory governance, resilience, and improving the quality of life. In contrast, in domestic Iranian studies, the predominant emphasis has been on the technical and infrastructural aspects of smartening, while the theoretical, social, and citizen-oriented dimensions of this concept have received less attention. This gap highlights the necessity of revising research and policy-making approaches in the national context to move towards the comprehensive realization of the sustainable smart city.

Abstract Background and Objective: In recent decades, digital transformations and globalization have created novel opportunities for digital startups to expand beyond national borders. In Iran, despite the remarkable growth of the startup ecosystem and a young, talented human resource pool, the internationalization process of these companies faces multifaceted challenges, including economic and political sanctions, financial restrictions, and weak international networks. These barriers threaten the success of startups in global markets and underscore the need for a systematic analysis of influencing factors. The objective of this research is to identify and model key factors affecting the internationalization process of Iranian digital startups, focusing on barriers, opportunities, and interrelationships, to provide a practical conceptual framework for stakeholders such as policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs.
Methodology: This study employs a mixed-methods qualitative-quantitative approach. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 experts from Iran's startup ecosystem (using snowball sampling until saturation), identifying influencing factors and categorizing them into 6 dimensions and 41 components via thematic analysis (using MaxQDA software). In the quantitative phase, inter-dimensional relationships were analyzed using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and a self-interaction matrix, with model stability assessed through MICMAC analysis.
Results and Findings: The findings reveal six main dimensions: strategic and business model, marketing and customer interaction, cultural and international, infrastructural and legal, human resources and team, and supportive and financial. Marketing and cultural factors rank at the first level (linkage and vital), infrastructural and human at the second (autonomous), and financial at the third (independent). The ISM model emphasizes that successful internationalization requires a focus on cultural adaptation and marketing strategies, while financial and infrastructural supports play a facilitating role. The results urge policymakers to strengthen international networks and cultural empowerment, offering suggestions for future research such as comparative analyses and the role of emerging technologies. This model provides a practical framework to accelerate the internationalization of Iranian startups.

Abstract Background and Objective: Today, considering that social health has different effects both at the individual and family level and at the social level, paying attention to women's social health as the first caregivers of family and community health is of great importance.Thus, this study examines the effect of gender inequality on women’n social health.
Methodology: The method used in this research is survey,data were collected using a questionnaire and random sampling method from 138 women working in the Behzisti (Welfare)organization.The validiy of the tool was confirmed by content validity method and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to measure the reliability and the data were analyzed using SPSS 25 and LISREL 8.8 software. The impact of women’s social health (as a dependent variable)has been measured in 5 dimensions of social solidarity ,social cohesion, social prosperity ,social acceptance and social participation from an independent variable(gender inequality).
Findings and Conclusion: According to the results of inferential statistics tests in this study, it can be claimed with 99% probability that the variable of patriarchal ideology (social factor of inequality), gender stereotypes in textbooks and mass media and religiosity (cultural factors of inequality) have a negative effect. And is significant on all 5 dimensions of women's social health and the variables of job rank, family social status, level of education, age (underlying factors of inequality), personal income and the amount of personal property of women (economic factors of inequality) have a positive and significant effect. It focuses on all 5 dimensions of women's social health but, the variable of marital status (one of the underlying factors of inequality) is not effective in women's social health (for the four dimensions of social prosperity, social participation, social adaptation and social cohesion) and only in the dimension of "social acceptance" which averages four different groups. Therefore, the marital status variable only affects the "social acceptance" dimension of social health.

Abstract Background and Objective: his study aims to examine the regional impact of the glass ceiling phenomenon on women's entrepreneurship indicators in selected countries (Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, and Turkey) over the period from 2008 to 2024. The glass ceiling, as an invisible barrier preventing women from accessing senior managerial positions and entrepreneurial opportunities, is the focus of this research. The objective is to analyze the dynamics of these constraints and their effects on key indicators such as parliamentary participation, wages, economic participation, gender equality index, managerial positions, and board membership.
Methodology: This study employs the Quantile Vector Autoregressive (QVAR) panel method based on the Diebold and Yilmaz (2012) framework. Annual data for the mentioned variables were collected and standardized by creating a composite index. The analysis was conducted across the 25th, 50th, and 75th quantiles to examine connectivity and volatility spillovers among variables under various conditions (stable, moderate, and volatile). A rolling window approach was used for temporal dynamics analysis, and unit root tests ensured data stationarity.
Findings and Results: The results indicate that the glass ceiling has a significant negative impact on women's entrepreneurship during crises (e.g., the 2014–2016 oil price collapse) and prosperity periods (e.g., 2018 women's rights reforms). Parliamentary participation emerges as the primary receiver of volatility, particularly vulnerable in crises, while board membership and the gender equality index serve as transmitters and stabilizers. The U-shaped pattern of the Total Connectedness Index (TCI) confirms reduced connectivity in intermediate conditions and increased connectivity during crises and prosperity. Lebanon and Iran showed greater vulnerability, while Qatar and Oman exhibited relative resilience. To mitigate glass ceiling effects, recommendations include implementing women's entrepreneurship mentoring programs in Iran and Lebanon, increasing women's parliamentary quotas in Lebanon and Egypt, developing women-supportive organizational cultures in companies in Iran and Turkey, conducting public education to reduce gender stereotypes in Iran and Jordan, and strengthening local databases for more accurate data collection.

Abstract Context and purpose: A decade after the revolution, in order to organize the country's urban system, the construction of new cities around the mother cities and densely populated urban centers was put on the agenda of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. But the expected results, i.e. systematization of urbanization and development of the country's urbanization, have not been achieved.
Research method:  This article was compiled with the aim of investigating the factors of failure of new cities in Iran. The target population of new cities in Iran and the sample population of the research are 50 geography professors specializing in urban planning. In this regard, 6 indicators have been used in 27 items.
Findings and conclusions:  The results of the Delphi technique showed that the lack of land use plan with 3.94 as the most influential, followed by problems related to the employment structure and failure to achieve job self-sufficiency with 3.78, neglecting environmental-geographical studies with 32. 3/3 and the instability of urban planning policies and the continuous change of approaches in the field of housing and urban development with 2.92 are considered as other factors of the failure of new cities. Also, the results of Friedman's test also show that the technical-engineering and economic indicators are preferable to other indicators with an average of 5.58 and 5.12, respectively.
The results of the factor analysis show that the lack of land survey plan and little attention to geographical studies; Failure to pay attention to the distance, problems related to the planning principles of new cities and the increase in the cost of urban services were recognized as the most important factors for the failure of new cities.

Abstract Background and Aim: Nowadays, due to the important role of the transportation system in sustainable urban development, it is important to adopt appropriate policies in the urban transportation sector and develop sustainable transportation as one of the main areas of urban growth.. Green transportation means sustainable transportation with the least negative effects on the environment, which according to the current conditions of the world, we should seek to achieve this and use modern technologies to reduce the environmental effects caused by transportation. The main goal of this research is to investigate the effect of using green transportation in improving the living conditions of Iranian cities.
Methods: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of nature. The method of collecting information was document-library and content analysis.
Findings and Conclusion: The research results show; Today, special attention has been paid to the approach of green urban transportation in many regions of the world. In Iran, in many cities under the influence of global developments and the implementation of various urban plans, the economic factor has become the main determining factor and the developments of the current century and the oil-based economy have resulted in excessive population density, the concentration of activities and the frequency of constructions, the growth and physical expansion of urban centers and the destruction of the natural ecosystem of the country's cities; However, in some cities of the country, measures have been taken to achieve urban green transportation but the necessity of creating and planning to use this model is felt more and more every day, considering the problems that have arisen for the cities of the country;  And in the following, suggestions and solutions are provided for the implementation of this approach.