Role of Border Trade in Stabilizing the Rural Population: A Case Study of Sardasht Border Market Extension in Iran

Commercial and economic transactions are considered as the driving force and engine of development in any society. Such transactions may act as the factors of dynamism and prosperity of border areas while playing an essential role in improving life standards of people، poverty reduction، appropriate and equitable distribution of incomes and population size، as well as expediting better cooperation among border areas. This study tries to analyse the role of commercial transactions in stabilizing the rural population. The statistical population of the research consists of 309 households residing in 13 villages located in the western part of Sardasht Township in Iran''s border with Iraq. Based on Cochran''s formula and simple random sampling method، the sample volume composed of 90 households of 3 villages calculated by cluster sampling method. The data gathered by questionnaires، interviews and documentary studies were analysed through the use of descriptive and inferential statistics. The data were analysed to determine the effects of border markets on the sample rural residents'' income and welfare facilities and their population retention in different times mentioned in different census takings. The results showed that border transactions may lead to rural population retention in the under-studied area، and that by organizing such transactions we can expect the expansion of rural settlements in border areas may end in the development of rural settlements.