Spatial Inequalities in Regional Development: A Multi-Indicator Assessment of Social Services, Employment, and Welfare in Tehran Province

Balanced regional development requires equitable access to social services, employment opportunities, and welfare resources. Spatial inequalities in the distribution of these factors can increase disparities in quality of life and regional resilience. This study aims to assess and analyze the social service provision, employment conditions, and welfare status of counties in Tehran Province, Iran. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach and evaluates ۱۶ counties using nine variables within five indicators, including security, healthcare services, education, employment, and social welfare. Data were collected from official statistical sources for ۱۴۰۰ Solar Hijri. The Shannon Entropy method was applied to determine the objective weights of indicators, while the TOPSIS method was used to rank and classify counties based on their relative performance. The findings reveal considerable spatial disparities among counties. Tehran County achieved the most favorable economic condition due to its superior employment and welfare status, while Firuzkoh and Tehran showed relatively better social conditions due to stronger healthcare and educational infrastructure. In contrast, most counties experienced critical conditions, mainly due to insufficient healthcare capacity, educational limitations, unemployment challenges, and higher levels of poverty. The results highlight the concentration of social and economic advantages in central areas and emphasize the necessity of place-based policies to improve service accessibility, reduce regional inequalities, and promote balanced development across Tehran Province.

کلیدواژه ها:

Social services ، Employment ، Welfare ، Shannon Entropy ، TOPSIS