Analyzing Urban Sprawl in Tehran Metropolis: A Systematic Review of Economic Drivers, Land and Housing Policies, and Consequences on Infrastructure Costs and Environmental Degradation

Urban sprawl in Tehran metropolis has emerged as a complex, unplanned phenomenon driven by the interaction of economic incentives and ineffective land and housing policies. This paper presents a systematic review of theoretical foundations—without quantitative calculations—to identify the mechanisms through which land speculation, housing (un)affordability, zoning failures, and fragmented governance produce low-density, car-dependent expansion. Furthermore, it synthesizes evidence on the resulting impacts: rising per capita infrastructure costs (roads, utilities, public services) and severe environmental degradation (habitat fragmentation, air pollution, loss of ecosystem services). Based exclusively on ۴۰+ peer-reviewed sources from Scopus, the study proposes a conceptual model linking causes, sprawl indicators, and outcomes. Findings confirm that Tehran’s sprawl is not accidental but systematically reinforced by speculative land markets and policy mismatches. The paper concludes with actionable recommendations for compact, transit-oriented development and identifies critical research gaps.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban Sprawl ، Tehran ، Land Policy ، Housing Affordability ، Infrastructure Cost ، Environmental Degradation ، Systematic Review