A Comparison of Income Status of Settled Nomads and Identification of Factors Causing the Income Differences in Settlement and Nomadic Situations in Ilam Province of Iran

This study aimed at comparing the income status of settled nomads in Ilam province of Iran and Identification of factors causing the income differences in settlement and nomadic situations. It was conducted in a survey method with a statistical society of all the settled households of the province, in 2010. The sampling method was a proportionate stratified one. The results showed that the independent variables of livestock unit number, dry cultivated and also irrigated land area under cultivation in both situations were effective on the dependent variable of mean annual income of the households at the confidence level of 99 percent while the independent variables of amount of livestock products and amount of handicrafts had effects on the dependent variable only in the nomadic situation at the confidence level of 95 percent. In addition, the t test results of paired samples showed that the mean annual real income of the households decreased in the settlement situation, compared to the nomadic situation. Therefore, it could be concluded that the economic status of settled nomads of the province in the nomadic situation was better than the settlement situation; thus, in terms of the economy, nomadic life style proved to be more suitable for the nomads.