Local-spatial analyzing of rural weekly markets, based on rural hierarchical system in Aq Qala county

Weekly cyclical markets traditionally existed in various towns and cities, were known as one of the main characteristics of cities. In recent decades, these markets -as one of the emerging phenomena in social & economic geography- have been rapidly extended to rural areas. Regarding the importance of these markets in the life of rural setellers, not only our perceptions of their evolutions, and relationships with surrounding rural stricts, but also their compatibility potencial with upper-hand regions. So, the goal of our research is knowing and analyzing the rural cyclical markets in Aq Qala county, considering their locating compliance level with rural settlements hierarchical system. This research, has a developmental and applicational goal _and in terms of the methodology, is an exploratory, descriptive-analytic research. Data and information gathering was done according to documentary-field methods. In this regard, the main instrument of the study, was a researcher-made questionnaire, that given the state of our statistics population, consisted of two groups (buyers-sellers), finally 342 questionnaires were completed. To analyze the gathered information and data, we benefited descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney tests). According to the results of this study, based on different models (the shortest distance, population and weightening the services), those rural weekly markets, having been set up at the center of rural areas, have been more compatible with rural Centers and systems; and considering the government's attention and the existing population, enjoy a vaster performance radius. On the other hand, markets having been formed in ordinary villages, and in compliance with rural centers, show a weaker performance, due to less population.