Investigating the Impact of Economic, Managerial and External Factors on the Underdevelopment of Sistan and Baluchistan Province
Keywords:
underdevelopment, external factors, managerial factors, economic factorsAbstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of economic, managerial, and external factors on the underdevelopment of Sistan and Baluchistan province. This applied research used a descriptive–survey design. The statistical population consisted of university professors, executive managers, provincial experts, and economic activists. A multi-stage sampling approach was used to select 350 participants. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and reviewed for consistency before analysis. Descriptive statistics and inferential methods, including t-tests, Pearson correlation, and structural equation modeling using SPSS and Amos, were employed. Reliability was confirmed via Cronbach’s alpha, and construct validity was verified through confirmatory factor analysis. Findings indicated that all indicators related to economic, managerial, and external factors significantly contributed to underdevelopment. The strongest economic predictors included economic inequality, unemployment and informal jobs, migration of the active workforce, lack of major investments, and widespread economic poverty. Key managerial predictors included administrative incompetence, lack of familiarity with development components, misinterpretation of current conditions, absence of a comprehensive development vision, and inefficiency in using technical assistance. Among external factors, Afghanistan’s instability, ideological tensions after the Taliban’s rise, the presence of extremist groups, inadequate cooperation of neighboring countries regarding border security, and the province’s location on international smuggling routes had the highest influence. The study concludes that underdevelopment in Sistan and Baluchistan results from the combined effects of economic deficiencies, managerial weaknesses, and external geopolitical pressures. Addressing the province’s challenges requires integrated policy reforms, strengthened governance capacity, enhanced investment initiatives, and improved border security mechanisms.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammad Faroogh Ragam (Author); Esmaeil Shirali; Mostafa Azkia, Asemeh Ghasemi (Author)
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