A comparative study of complementary relationships between polycentric and monocentric urban regions (A, case study of Rasht and Central Mazandaran)

The concept of complementarity and polycentric development are closely related. Experts and decision-makers believe that small and medium-sized cities can reap the benefits of wider labor demand, greater access to services, and as well as physical spatial overflows to achieve the functions of larger cities. The question, however, is: do polycentric structures have greater potential than monocentric areas to make complementary connections between their cities and reap the benefits? To answer this question, the present study uses correspondence analysis to measure and compare the potential of complementary relationships in the two urban areas of Central Mazandaran and Rasht as a representative of polycentric and monocentric structures. For this purpose, employment data of major activity groups of two areas have been used. The results showed that there is a clear distinction between the economic functions of Amol, Sari and Babol cities in the field of industry, public administration and trade. However, in the urban metropolitan of Rasht, with the exception of Anzali port, which is considered as one of the most important ports in the country, other cities could not play a distinct role independent of the agricultural sector near Rasht. Although the findings support the potential for more complementary relationships in the polycentric region of Mazandaran, it does not mean that these links are not established in the Rasht urban region.