Explaining the Root Causes of slum through Regional Development and Urban Economics Theories

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Economics, Research Institute of Hawzeh and University. Qom. Iran

2 Ph.D. candidate of Economics. Research Institute of Hawzeh and University. Qom. Iran

10.30471/soci.2026.11770.2154

Abstract

slum policies can be divided into two categories: remedial (such as rehabilitation and empowerment policies) and preventive. According to the National Document for Empowerment and Organization of Informal Settlements (1402), it is essential to provide preventive policies for slum. On the other hand, prevention is not possible without considering the “root causes” because merely preventing the “proximate causes” of slum does not prevent its reproduction. The objective of this research, conducted using an analytical-descriptive method, is to analyze the root causes (RCA) of slum. According to the research findings, regional inequality and migration are non-root causes; therefore, with the help of regional development theories such as new economic geography, institutional, and evolutionary economic geography, we identify “causes of regional inequality” (i.e., “market mechanisms” and “government policies”) as the root causes of slum from the perspective of regional development. Furthermore, urban agglomeration forces—which are the “root drivers of urban growth”—and “policies to improve amenities in slum neighborhoods”—which lead to the “urban poverty paradox”—are two root causes from the perspective of urban economics. Therefore, contrary to common analyses that merely address the direct causes of slum such as weak urban services, regional inequality, and migration, the innovation of this research lies in introducing “market mechanisms,” “government policies,” “urban agglomeration forces,” and “policies to improve amenities in slum neighborhoods” as root causes of slum. The implications of these results are evident in policymaking for the prevention of slum, because understanding the root causes that reproduce slum is essential for prevention.

Keywords

Journal of Islam and Social Sciences

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 14 March 2026

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