Identifying and Analyzing Factors Affecting Poverty in the Islamic Republic of Iran: A Grounded Theory Approach

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Profesor of Economics, Department of Management and Economics, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Golestan university, Gorgan, Iran. azariza2015@gmail.com

2 University of Tabriz

3 Economic Development and planning Depart, Economics and management Faculty, University of Tabriz, Iran

10.22034/ecoj.2026.64496.3367

Abstract

Poverty is one of the basic problems of human societies and a sign of underdevelopment. With the growing extent of poverty and deprivation in Iran, addressing this issue now feels more urgent than ever. Therefore, this research was conducted to answer the question: "Why, despite the Islamic Republic of Iran's efforts to eliminate poverty and deprivation-spending significant natural and national resources over the past forty years- has it failed to achieve acceptable results?"

A qualitative method and grounded theory were used, and field data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with 20 subject-matter experts in 2022. Sampling was purposeful and continued until theoretical saturation. The interviews were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding.

Findings from the interviews were categorized into six components, with one central phenomenon identified. The model presents the causal conditions of poverty in the IRI, background conditions influencing these causes and strategies, intervening factors, strategies used by the IRI, and the outcomes of those strategies. One reason for the IRI’s failure to meet its goals is the ineffective educational structure -an element often overlooked in current theoretical literature -which plays a role in perpetuating poverty in Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Applied Theories of Economics

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 21 February 2026

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