Oil, Quality of Life, and Development in Iran During the Years 1971-2011

This study has attempted to investigate the effect of natural resources of oil and its income on Iranians’ quality of life during the years 1971–2011 using a historical documentary method. In institutionalism, the state is regarded as an important institution affecting the development process. The effect of this institution as the sole owner of oil revenue shall be studied through the “choice structuring” approach. To examine the influenceability of the community, the quality of life model as an index of social development has been employed. Through including more comprehensive dimensions, this concept shows the importance of equal and substantial growth in a vast range of components for improvement of quality of life, instead of the quantitative growth of the livelihood indices of welfare. The quintessential characteristic of the social policies of Iran’s government during the years 1971-2011, despite the changes in regimes and governments, has included rashness, lack of opportunity for institutional reform, inattention to domestic context, one-sidedness, and inattention to substantiality. This shows the embedment of certain issues in Iran’s structures which constantly creates again and again problems in all areas, including welfare and quality of life