An Analysis of Regional Inequalities and Determination of Priority of Development in Urban Places of East Azerbaijan Province

This paper aims at analyzing regional inequalities in 2006 and forecast development priority in urban places of East Azerbaijan Province. The study area consists of urban places of East Azerbaijan Province in 2006. The method of study is descriptive-analytical. The study consists of thirty nine indices including health, cultural, economical, infrastructural, housing, physical education, and finally combination of these indices using factor analysis and HDI methods that examined the degree of development and ranking of the regions. By using cluster analysis method the urban places of East Azerbaijan were grouped in three levels as developed, developing and deprived. Finally, using the regression model the priority of the development in the urban places of East Azerbaijan was is determined. Regression model results shows that share of the indices of health, housing and infrastructural, physical education and economic estimation have greater degree of development and the decrease of regional inequalities. With respect to the regression model health and infrastructural and housing indices suggest priority for less developed, developing and developed regions respectively. The physical education and economic indices are two priorities that suggest less developed, developing and developed regions.