Theoretical Reconsideration and Comparative Study of an Indigenous Social Development Index in Iran

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, institute for humanities and social studies (IHSS), Department of Social Psychology

2 Assistant Professor, Social Development Research Department

10.22034/jeds.2025.67901.1875

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to provide an interpretation of social development tailored to the cultural, social, and economic context of Iran to enable an accurate and coherent depiction of the country’s social development status for informed policy making.
Method: Initially, a comprehensive literature and document review was conducted to examine the historical evolution of the concept of social development, the classification of definitions, and related theoretical developments. The study then analyzed global trends in social development measurement and its assessment methods in Iran. Additionally, leading international institutions active in measuring social development were introduced, and the limitations of their indicators in reflecting Iran’s real social development situation were assessed. Subsequently, using the Nardo et al. approach and Delphi validation, a composite index aligned with Iran’s context was designed, and the social development status of Iran in 2024 was compared with the Legatum Prosperity Index results.
Findings: The findings indicate that Iran holds a moderate level of social development, with the highest inequalities evident in infrastructure capital and spatial justice indicators. Additionally, certain national social welfare indicators require policy revision and strengthened investment in welfare and social infrastructure to effectively address existing disparities and improve social well-being.
Conclusion: The localized social development index presented in this study can serve as an effective tool for accurately mapping the social development status at provincial and county levels, facilitating the monitoring of social development trends across various planning and policy making levels in the country. Moreover, this index can assist policymakers in identifying areas of weakness and in promoting social justice while providing a data-driven foundation for development-oriented planning and equitable policy design across different regions of Iran. Overall, the study contributes to the broader discourse on social development by offering a context-sensitive framework that can inspire similar localized approaches in other developing societies.

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References

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