Economy

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Objective: This study aims to examine how traditional knowledge regarding the use of medicinal plants is preserved among indigenous people and to analyze the learning and teaching networks of this knowledge in Shah Kuh-e Sofla village using a network analysis approach.
Methods: To identify indigenous knowledge transmission methods, the learning and teaching networks related to medicinal plants in Shah Kuh-e Sofla were analyzed using network analysis. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observations were conducted with 53 residents during the spring and summer of 2023 and 2024 (1402–1403 Iranian calendar). Common network indicators such as degree centrality, betweenness centrality, density, and MDS were calculated, and visualizations were produced using UCINET and NetDraw software.
Results: Results show that the majority of indigenous residents prioritize medicinal plants as their primary treatment for diseases and possess knowledge of their therapeutic properties and processing methods. Network analysis revealed that mothers and grandmothers hold key roles in learning networks, while children and daughters-in-law dominate the teaching networks. This suggests vertical, intergenerational knowledge transfer within family-based rural communities, highlighting the pivotal role of women.
Conclusions: Given the proven value and hereditary transmission of indigenous knowledge, its documentation, preservation, and continuation are essential. The methodology used can be applied in other rural and nomadic areas to identify key knowledge holders and enhance the effective preservation and transmission of valuable, region-specific traditional knowledge.

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Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the role of networking of funds supporting the development of agricultural activities in improving the income level of rural and nomadic women entrepreneurs in Urmia County.
Methods: The statistical population of the research is rural and nomadic women who are members of the microcredit fund in Urmia County. Using the Krejci and Morgan table, 182 of them were selected as the study sample. The required data was obtained by filling out the questionnaire using random sampling method. To achieve the study's goal, according to the nature of the dependent variable, which is defined as a binary variable (one for incomes higher and zero for incomes lower than the average income of the selected sample), the logit model was used. The independent variables of the model include social, educational-promotional, organizational, supra-organizational, psychological, infrastructure and supporting, political-legal, and monitoring factors, which are proposed as networking components. Finally, after estimating the logit model using EVIWES software, the marginal effects and elasticities of each independent variable were calculated using the estimated coefficients of the model.
Results: The results obtained from estimating the logit model showed that the variables of educational-promotional, monitoring, infrastructure and support, organizational, political-legal, psychological and supra-organizational factors as networking components have a significant and positive effect on the income level of women members of support funds, and social factors do not have a significant effect. Based on the calculated elasticities, with a one percent improvement in each of the mentioned factors, the income of women members of the fund will increase by 0.84, 0.9, 0.75, 0.66, 0.43, 0.92, and 0.50 percent, respectively. Also, the marginal effects showed that with a one-unit improvement in the mentioned factors, the income of rural and nomadic women increases with a probability of 0.52, 0.63, 0.44, 0.31, 0.27, 0.50, and 0.39 percent, respectively.
Conclusions: Prioritizing the impact of networking components on increasing the income of women members of support funds in Urmia County based on both elasticity and marginal effects showed that the impact of psychological, monitoring, and educational-promotional factors is greater than other components, and political and legal factors have the least impact. Therefore, efforts to improve these factors through providing educational and promotional services and holding business skill courses can be effective in the financial and economic empowerment of rural and nomadic women.
 

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Objective: With the formation of the discourse of the Asian mode of production formulated by Marx and Engels in the late 19th century, and based on geographical, social, and political components, the village was recognized as the main base and the top of the theory of the Asian mode of production. Following the placement in the process, in which the village is the validity and fundamental characteristic of the theory, relations emerged that can be interpreted collectively in a comprehensive and superior connection with rural geography. This research aims to explain the position of the village in the theory of the Asian mode of production by reviewing the theory and different interpretations of various sciences on the subject of the position of the village.
Methods: The statistical population of this study is the documentation of various sciences, especially historical studies, economic sciences, social sciences, and sometimes geographical sciences, related to the theory of the Asian mode of production. For this purpose, related studies, especially in African regions and the countries of China, Korea, Iran, and Russia, which the study of the discourse of the Asian mode of production focuses on, have been reviewed. The research method in this study is interpretive, with a review of examples and evidence adopted from the texts.
Results: By putting together about 80 exemplary witnesses, seven core and focal categories were obtained from which the village can be interpreted as the main context for the formation of the Asian production theory. An authoritarian society, influenced by centralized power, dominated by a subsistence economy, self-sufficiency, one-way management, and a closed social order, is also characteristic of rural societies in their Eastern (Asian) context.
Conclusions: In societies where the discourse of Asian production has been discussed, the village is first the main context for the formation of the theory of Asian production; then, in interpretations of the Asian production method, the village is known as an authoritarian society, influenced by centralized power, dominated by a subsistence economy, self-sufficient, with one-sided management, and with a closed social order.

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Objective: The effects of tourism, especially in rural areas, vary by spatial location. In fact, if tourism activities are to be accepted as an approach for sustainable economic development in rural areas, it is necessary to examine the distribution of their benefits and make the necessary plans for their equitable distribution. The present study, while addressing this issue, examines the economic effects of gastronomic tourism "Kebab Bonab" as a geographical phenomenon in rural areas of Bonab County.
Methods: The present study is of an applied type and quantitative in nature that uses the survey method. The problem, background, and theoretical framework were examined through field observations and a library study. Data related to the economic effects of gastronomic tourism were collected by determining indicators and completing a questionnaire by 242 villagers, and analyzed using one-sample t-test, cluster analysis, spatial autocorrelation, and weighted geographic regression.
Results: The tourist attraction of "Bonab Kebab" has led to the development of employment, marketing, and sales of local products of the villagers, as well as increasing the income of residents. On the other hand, the spatial and human proximity factor has been among the main factors in attracting the economic benefits of tourism in the rural settlements of the study area. In these settlements, the necessary human resources, having jobs in restaurants and Bonab Kebab dishes and related jobs in the city of Bonab or in the nearest rural settlement, have played a major role in attracting economic benefits.
Conclusions: Fair and appropriate distribution of benefits from the tourism industry can improve the quality of life of residents, strengthen community participation, and even make this type of industry sustainable. In order to achieve such a function, it is important to understand the spatial distribution of its benefits and plan for it in rural settlements.
 

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Objective: Technical and vocational education, as one of the fundamental pillars of human and economic development, plays a decisive role in enhancing skills, employability, and workforce productivity. Such training programs -particularly in rural areas- can provide an effective platform for developing practical and entrepreneurial competencies, thereby fostering the formation of dynamic human capital. When rural women are empowered through technical and vocational education, they not only acquire the skills necessary to enter the labor market and establish small or home-based enterprises, but also gain a deeper understanding of the economic potential within their local environment. This process contributes to increased household income, improved living conditions, and greater participation of women in rural economic development. Consequently, the linkage among technical and vocational education, women’s empowerment, and rural economic growth serves as a sustainable driver of poverty reduction, the creation of decent and lasting employment, and balanced development within rural communities.
Methods: The research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature and type. The required data were collected using documentary and survey methods. Quantitative techniques such as T-tests and the ARAS decision-making method were used for data analysis.
Results: The results of this study indicate that technical and vocational training generally has a positive impact on the lives of rural women across all four indicators of income, consumption, savings, and production. However, the extent of this impact varied across the county's districts. The Rud Talkh district experienced the most positive impact across all four indicators, while the North Tropical Bahmaei district experienced the least impact from these trainings.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of equitable and proportional distribution of technical and vocational training across the county and the necessity of tailoring the content of these trainings to the specific needs of each region.

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Objective: The present study aims to investigate the role of social entrepreneurship based on self-help groups in the economic empowerment of rural women in Topqareh rural district in Khodabandeh County (Zanjan province).
Methods: The present study is of an applied type, and its method is descriptive-analytical. The statistical population of the study is 645 women working in a clothing production workshop, of which 240 were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula. Due to the high participation of the individuals, 271 questionnaires were completed and used as the basis for analysis. A field method based on completing a questionnaire was used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using one-sample t-tests, Wilcoxon, and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Results: The results of the one-sample t-test showed that social entrepreneurship has a positive effect on all indicators of rural women's empowerment, and the indicators of participation in household decision-making and promotion of women's personal and social security both had the greatest impact on rural women's empowerment, with a numerical mean of (4.11). Also, the results of the Wilcoxon test showed that there was a significant difference in all research indicators at the 99% level, and the greatest changes were observed in the indicators of socio-economic self-reliance (-11.511) and social freedom and mobility (-11.508).
Conclusions: Social entrepreneurship based on rural women's self-help groups has helped improve the economic indicators of rural women's empowerment.
 

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Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of tourism entrepreneurship on the viability of rural households in the North Banajoi Rural District of Bonab County (North West of IRAN).
Methods: The present study is applied in terms of its purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of its method. The statistical population of the study consists of rural households in the northern Banajoi rural district of Bonab city. According to the results of the 2016 census, 3828 households, equal to 12262 people, live in this rural district, and 349 people were selected as a sample using the Cochran formula. The data and information of the study were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire, the face and content validity of which was confirmed using the opinions of relevant experts and professors. Also, its reliability using the Cochran formula was found to be 0.79 for the tourism entrepreneurship component, 0.77 for the sustainability component, and 0.78 for the entire questionnaire. In order to analyze the research findings, one-sample t-test, multivariate regression analysis, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used.
Results: The results of the one-sample t-test showed that the status of tourism entrepreneurship, with an average of 3.121, and the status of rural household viability, with an average of 3.223, are in a desirable state. The results of the multivariate regression analysis of the effects of tourism entrepreneurship on rural household viability showed that the economic index had the greatest impact on rural household viability, with a beta coefficient of 0.376. The results of the Pearson correlation coefficient showed that the value of the obtained correlation coefficient was equal to 0.376, which indicates a significant relationship between tourism entrepreneurship and rural household viability.
Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between tourism entrepreneurship and the viability of rural households, so that by providing a platform for entrepreneurship and improving tourism economic indicators, the viability indicators of rural households will also improve.
 

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Objective: Rural areas in many developing countries are increasingly confronted with economic, social, and environmental challenges that contribute to social exclusion, poverty, and population decline. In this context, the concept of creative settlements has emerged as an innovative approach for revitalizing rural communities and promoting sustainable development. The present study aimed to identify an appropriate model for the formation of creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County, located in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran.
Methods: This research employed a descriptive–analytical methodology. Relevant indicators were identified through documentary studies and preliminary field investigations. Data were collected using field observation forms, expert questionnaires, and household surveys. The collected data were analyzed using Fuzzy DEMATEL and SPSS software. The findings revealed that participation was the most influential component in the formation of creative rural settlements, with a mean score of 4.05. Furthermore, 70.3% of surveyed households reported an increase in the process of creative settlement formation during the last decade, whereas 21.2% perceived a decline.
Results: The results indicate that rural participation, social cohesion, occupational diversification, local leadership capacity, and the promotion of creative ideas significantly contribute to the emergence and development of creative settlements.
Conclusions: The study concludes that the participatory model represents the most effective framework for fostering creative rural settlements in Rashtkhwar County. Strengthening participatory mechanisms can enhance other dimensions of creativity and innovation, thereby accelerating rural development and improving the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.
 

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Objective: This study aims to identify the key local drivers influencing tourism development in Ferdows County, Iran, with a future-oriented perspective toward the 1414 Horizon (2035).
Methods: The research is applied in purpose and employs a mixed-methods design. The study population consisted of tourism experts, managers, and stakeholders in Ferdows County. Using snowball sampling and the principle of theoretical saturation, 30 experts were selected for the qualitative phase. Data were collected through structured interviews and a futures studies cross-impact questionnaire. The identified drivers were analyzed using the MICMAC structural analysis model.
Results: The results revealed fifteen local drivers affecting tourism development. Among these, the most influential drivers were social security and safety in tourism destinations and attractions (+15), promotion and preservation of indigenous handicrafts (+11), development of local tourism infrastructure (+7), branding and marketing of local tourism products (+7), preservation of historical assets and cultural heritage (+5), and tourism investment and financial support (+1).
Conclusions: By adopting a futures studies approach, this research provides a comprehensive assessment of both local and extra-local factors affecting tourism development. The findings offer strategic insights for policymakers and tourism planners seeking to enhance the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of tourism in Ferdows County.
 

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Objective: As one of the principal social support institutions in Iran, the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee (IKRC) is mandated to facilitate the transition of poor and deprived households out of poverty through an empowerment-oriented approach. This study critically evaluates and diagnoses the effectiveness of the Committee’s empowerment initiatives targeting rural households in Hamun County, located in the Sistan region of southeastern Iran.
Methods: The study adopted a descriptive–analytical research design based on both documentary and field data. Data were collected through structured questionnaires administered at two levels: beneficiary households and local experts. The statistical population consisted of household heads covered by the IKRC in rural areas of Hamun County. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 369 households was selected. Data analysis was conducted using the Additive Ratio Assessment (ARAS) multi-criteria decision-making technique, supported by SPSS and ArcGIS software.
Results: The results indicate that among the economic indicators, self-sufficiency and employment loans demonstrated the lowest effectiveness in promoting economic empowerment. In contrast, indicators such as psychological well-being and life satisfaction achieved the highest scores within the socio-cultural dimension. Friedman test results revealed statistically significant differences among the dimensions of empowerment, with the socio-cultural dimension exhibiting the highest level of effectiveness and the economic dimension the lowest.
Conclusions: Weak monitoring mechanisms and the inefficiency of human resources in achieving program objectives were identified as the principal factors limiting the effectiveness of the Committee’s empowerment initiatives. The findings highlight the need for revising implementation policies, providing specialized staff training, and strengthening process-oriented monitoring systems to enhance the effectiveness of rural empowerment programs.
 

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Objective: This study aims to analyze and prioritize the effects of supportive facilities and marketing strategies on the economic performance of rural livestock farming units in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran.
Methods: The research employed the Analytic Network Process (ANP), a multi-criteria decision-making approach that captures interrelationships and interdependencies among criteria and sub-criteria. The conceptual framework consisted of seven main criteria and twenty-five sub-criteria designed to comprehensively identify the determinants of livestock farms’ economic performance. Data were collected using a pairwise-comparison questionnaire completed by 237 livestock farmers across various counties in Khorasan Razavi Province. Following the construction of pairwise comparison matrices, the weights of criteria and sub-criteria were calculated, and the final analysis was conducted using Super Decisions software.
Results: The results revealed that the three most influential criteria affecting the economic performance of rural livestock farms were supportive facilities, economic costs, and marketing strategies. At the sub-criteria level, livestock feed costs received the highest priority weight, indicating the substantial financial burden imposed by feed expenses on livestock producers. Market access and the amount of loans received ranked second and third, respectively, highlighting the critical role of effective market participation and adequate financial resources in ensuring the sustainability and expansion of livestock farming activities. Other significant sub-criteria included livestock product insurance and the establishment of cooperatives, both of which contribute substantially to risk reduction and improved marketing performance.
Conclusions: Enhancing the economic performance of rural livestock farms requires a comprehensive policy approach focused on optimizing support mechanisms, reducing input costs, strengthening marketing infrastructure, and expanding insurance coverage. The findings provide a valuable scientific basis for agricultural policymakers and decision-makers to formulate targeted, evidence-based, and development-oriented strategies for the sustainable advancement of the livestock sector in rural areas.
 

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Objective: Agritourism creates new forms of interaction between agricultural producers and visitors while utilizing existing rural resources. In addition to strengthening local economies, it contributes to the preservation of agricultural land against pressures arising from large-scale retail expansion and global food supply chains. Given the growing importance of this sector, the present study investigates the factors influencing agritourism development in the rural areas of the Central District of Ardabil County, Iran.
Methods: This applied research adopted a descriptive–analytical approach. Data were collected through both documentary and field-based methods. The statistical population consisted of household heads engaged in agricultural land utilization. Based on Cochran’s formula, a sample of 380 respondents was selected through simple random sampling. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using the Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) approach was employed to analyze the data.
Results: A total of 67 indicators were initially examined, of which seven were excluded due to insufficient factor loadings. The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability. The structural model confirmed significant relationships between agritourism development and its determining factors. The highest factor loadings were associated with organizing cultural and recreational festivals, improving street lighting, and promoting crop diversification and agricultural product branding. Furthermore, the highest t-value (43.961) was observed for the relationship between agritourism development and socio-cultural factors, indicating the dominant role of this dimension in fostering agritourism development.
Conclusions: The development of agritourism in the Central District of Ardabil requires effective integration of managerial, policy, and legal dimensions. Agritourism can stimulate comprehensive socio-economic and cultural development, thereby contributing to sustainable rural development. Strengthening agritourism initiatives can enhance employment opportunities, improve household incomes, reduce rural outmigration, and increase the value-added potential of agricultural products and rural handicrafts.
 

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Objective: Designing and implementing employment programs constitutes one of the most important responsibilities of the government in Iran. Various governmental organizations have undertaken numerous initiatives to promote employment; however, statistical evidence indicates that despite the implementation of multiple employment-generation strategies and programs, the employment situation of young people has not improved substantially, and youth unemployment rates remain significantly higher than the national average. This study seeks to explain the factors underlying the success or failure of employment policies and programs implemented during the past two decades.
Methods: This study employs a documentary analysis approach. The analyzed documents include employment action plans, policy reports, and implementation reports related to employment-generation initiatives. Most of these documents were produced by the Islamic Consultative Assembly Research Center, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The documents were systematically examined to identify trends in employment policy development and to provide a theoretical interpretation of these changes. Data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Existing studies in this field can generally be classified into two categories. The first group explains the effectiveness of employment programs primarily through economic growth and investment, arguing that employment initiatives are unlikely to achieve their objectives without sustained economic expansion and increased investment. The second group attributes the limited effectiveness of employment policies to the outdated nature of program titles and intervention frameworks. Through a longitudinal analysis of employment policy documents, this study demonstrates that the titles and frameworks of employment programs have largely been updated over the past two decades. Nevertheless, the findings reveal that the principal challenges affecting the design and implementation of employment programs are a lack of transparency, insufficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, and weak institutional coordination.
Conclusions: The study concludes that employment policies and programs suffer from structural weaknesses, including inadequate transparency, ineffective oversight, and poor coordination among relevant institutions, all of which contribute to their limited effectiveness. Enhancing transparency, accountability, and inter-organizational coordination requires establishing a balanced and constructive relationship among the state, the market, and civil society. Such an institutional arrangement can significantly improve the quality and effectiveness of employment policies, particularly those targeting youth employment.

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Purpose: Creative tourism, as a component of the vast tourism industry, can play a major role in empowering local communities, diversifying economic growth, and generating new employment opportunities in rural areas in connection with sustainable rural entrepreneurship and other economic sectors. Accordingly, the present study aims to identify the key factors and driving forces influencing the effects of creative tourism on the development of sustainable rural entrepreneurship.
Methodology: The research is applied in purpose and descriptive–analytical in nature, employing a futures studies approach. Data were collected through both documentary (library sources and scientific journals) and field methods (questionnaires). To extract the key drivers, the questionnaire was designed in five main dimensions: socio-cultural, economic, environmental, physical, and institutional-organizational. The sample population consisted of 25 experts and specialists in creative tourism and sustainable entrepreneurship. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were confirmed through expert judgment. Data analysis and structural influence analysis of the key indicators were conducted using MICMAC software.
Findings: The results revealed that among the 91 factors examined across five dimensions, 20 key drivers were identified, including: strengthening intergenerational cooperation (39), public awareness of cultural and social values (38), reducing economic dependence on agriculture (49), creating new export opportunities (49), environmental awareness of tourists (48), encouraging green businesses (47), creating natural camping sites (49), developing cultural-tourism centers (48), creating a database of rural entrepreneurs (46), increasing financial transparency (42) and etc.
Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that creative tourism can serve as an effective instrument for promoting sustainable rural entrepreneurship. Structural analysis indicates that enhancing social collaboration, revitalizing handicrafts, reducing agricultural dependency, and fostering new economic opportunities significantly contribute to rural entrepreneurial sustainability.
 

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User satisfaction in rural ecotourism accommodations has become a critical determinant of success in the tourism industry. With the rapid growth of online booking platforms such as Jabama and intensifying competition, data-driven analysis is increasingly essential for identifying the factors influencing satisfaction. Despite the growing popularity of ecotourism in Iran, few studies have applied advanced and interpretable machine learning methods to explore this topic. The rise of the sharing economy and digital accommodation platforms has transformed user experiences, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based insights.

This study collected data from 1,123 rural ecotourism lodgings listed on the Jabama platform using Python and the Selenium library. Independent variables included information quality, cleanliness, value for money, check-in experience, hosting quality, and location, while user satisfaction ratings served as the dependent variable. Regression-based models—linear regression, decision tree, random forest, gradient boosting, and support vector regression (SVR) with an RBF kernel—were implemented. Model performance was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE), the coefficient of determination (R²), and 5-fold cross-validation to ensure reliability and robustness.

The results showed that random forest and gradient boosting achieved the highest accuracy, with R² values above 0.86 and MSE below 0.012. Feature importance analysis revealed that information quality (importance score = 0.442), cleanliness, and value for money were the strongest predictors of user satisfaction. The decision tree model provided interpretable decision rules, highlighting the central role of information quality at the root level and the subsequent influence of cleanliness and value for money. These findings underscore the potential of interpretable machine learning approaches for enhancing user satisfaction analysis in Iran’s ecotourism sector and guiding data-informed managerial decisions.

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Objective: The main goal of this research is to identify, prioritize, and analyze the challenges and problems related to agriculture and natural resources in the Lower Atrak River basin, with a focus on the Chat region of Gonbad-e Kavus County. Relying on the perspectives of local elites, experts, and stakeholders, the study strives to explain the causal relationships between the human and natural factors influencing these challenges and to provide a basis for informed decision-making for sustainable resource management.
Methods: This research is qualitative in nature and applied in its objective. Data were collected through the review of upstream documents and a specialized questionnaire based on a five-point Likert scale. The reliability of the research instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. To prioritize the issues and problems, the non-parametric Friedman test was employed. Furthermore, the DPSIR conceptual model was used as the analytical framework for the research to analyze the causal relationships among the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts, and responses. 
 

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The aim of the current research is to identify spatial processes affecting the development of rural entrepreneurship in order to identify existing and emerging theoretical perspectives. The research method in the current study is applied in terms of purpose and in terms of methodology, it is a combination of systematic review and qualitative content analysis. The statistical population of the research is articles extracted from magazines related to the field of rural entrepreneurship and geography in valid databases. The research population is 113 articles over a period of 22 years from 2000-2023. In the next step, irrelevant articles were removed by screening and finally, 38 Latin scientific articles were analyzed as the research community from the total of studies. For analysis, open, axial and selective coding was used in the software environment (Atlas Ti). Also, the opinions of 5 experts have been used for validation. The research findings included 212 primary codes that were conceptualized in 26 categories and four dimensions and one component (social-spatial). Examining the time distribution of the articles showed that the first articles were published in 2007 and remained stagnant until 2014, and after that, there was an increasing trend until now. Such thematic distribution of articles have been published in social, spatial and economic fields, respectively. The research results showed that rural entrepreneurship is strongly influenced by spatial factors. These studies have been affected by the conceptual evolution of space literature and at the same time as the conceptual evolution of this discourse, its proposed components have also changed and changed from a traditional perspective to a socio-spatial concept. Therefore, space acts as a platform for social interactions and plays an important role in the formation of social and spatial networks that affect the development of rural entrepreneurship

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The research was fundamental in terms of purpose and mixed and exploratory in terms of method. In the qualitative part, the inductive content analysis method was used, and in the quantitative part, the interpretive structural method with the integrated ISM-DEMATEL technique was used. The study population consisted of academic experts, welfare experts, and relevant organizations that are directly related to the employment of disabled people, and disabled people. The study population consisted of academic experts, welfare experts, and relevant organizations that are directly related to the employment of disabled people, and disabled people. Data were collected through a review of secondary studies, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a researcher-made questionnaire. In the qualitative section, the results showed that the categories of networking and market development for products, sustainability and continuous improvement of the plan, implementation of career counseling based on the type of disability and climate, psychological capacity building and skill empowerment, financial and infrastructure support, and identification of applicants and individuals susceptible to job creation are effective factors in creating a sustainable employment model for people with disabilities. The results of the quantitative section showed that the first step was to identify applicants and people who are susceptible to job creation; the second step was to implement career counseling based on the type of disability and climate; the third step was to build psychological capacity and skill empowerment and financial and infrastructure support; and the fourth step was to build networks and markets for products, leadership, and continuous business improvement.
 

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Objective: The objective of this research is to analyze the phenomenon of rural shrinkage with an emphasis on the role of space commodification and migration.
Methods: This study employs a descriptive-analytical research methodology based on field and documentary observations. The sample size determination for both the expert questionnaire (on factors of space commodification) and the villager questionnaire (on factors influencing migration) utilized theoretical saturation. The sampling method for both the expert and citizen questionnaire sections was purposive non-probability sampling.
Results: 
The findings indicated that the most significant factors influencing rural migration, in order of importance, include: inefficient performance of city officials, family poverty, and inequality in facilities and services between this village and the provincial center and other destination cities, and so on. Based on the DANP model, the most significant factors affecting the commodification of rural space in relation to the phenomenon of urban shrinkage, in order of importance, include: destruction of natural landscapes, sense of alienation from space, change in land use of agricultural lands, sense of privatization of space, unemployment in the village, and so on.
Conclusions: The results demonstrated that rural shrinkage in Saqqez is a victim of the space commodification logic driven by neoliberal capitalism and the inefficiency of local governance. Migration, a key agent in this process, itself perpetuates the vicious cycle of shrinkage.


 

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However, given the numerous weaknesses in the economic, social, environmental-physical, and institutional spheres of rural areas—reflected in the existence of villages and villagers lacking the necessary characteristics for entrepreneurship—it is essential to implement development programs. Among the most important of these, considering the significance of the economic dimension for the sustainability of rural life and livelihoods, is the diversification of the rural economy. This can transform the rural environment into one worthy of activity and the advancement of its inhabitants. This study seeks to examine the effects of this economic diversification on the status of environmental elements and individual characteristics affecting entrepreneurship among villagers in the villages of Marivan County.
This applied research was conducted using a descriptive-analytical method. The statistical population of the study, based on its comparative approach, consisted of two groups: villages benefiting from economic diversification and villages lacking such diversification in Marivan County. After identifying the target villages, the sample size was determined using Cochran's method, and questionnaires were distributed through stratified sampling among the villages and simple random sampling among the villagers. Data analysis was performed using inferential statistical tests (Independent T-test and Path Analysis). The findings revealed that the implemented economic diversification has led to a significant difference in the favorability of the status of environmental elements and individual characteristics affecting entrepreneurship between the two studied rural groups. Furthermore, among the environmental factors, the economic index, and among the individual characteristics, the level of motivation, had the greatest impact on improving the entrepreneurial status of the villages due to their responsiveness to the implemented economic diversification.