The Role of Regional Planning in National Planning of Iran and Its Effect on Human Development Provincial

This paper tends to study the role of regional planning in the national planning system of Iran and its effect on human development in various provinces. In spite of efforts undertaken during recent years especially during the Third and Fourth National Economic, Social and Cultural Development Programs, the regional planning and development and its role in the national planning system still presents a challenge deserving more efforts, because the regional inequality with its consequences poses an obstacle to balanced and sustainable development. To clarify the significance of regional planning in human development of the provinces, the secondary analysis method is applied on data from various national and regional surveys. Variables of economic development, social and spatial inequality and social capital are used to examine the extent of human development in different provinces. The study shows that in national development programs both before and after the revolution some steps were undertaken to foster the regional planning in Iran, but the Third and Fourth Development Programs could be considered out standing in this regard. The situation of regional development is also investigated here using variables such as economic development, social capital and socio! and spatial inequity, and considering their impact on human development.