Economic Factors Affecting the Instability of Rural Settlements: A Case Study of Villages in Damavand County of Iran

Over the past half century, many rural areas of Iran have been exposed to unstable discharge multitude of rural population decline and increased number of deserted villages for various reasons including economic factors. This study examined the impact of economic factors on rural settlements instability in 8 villages, out of 81 villages of Damavand county, which were selected by stratified random sampling. It was an applied research conducted in a descriptive-analytical survey method by field work. The study population included 875 families living in rural areas and among them, 265 households were selected to complete the questionnaire. For data analysis, SPSS and one-sample T test, Pearson correlation and regression were used. The study results showed that the economic factors such as lack of employment, income, and lack of public and private investment in rural areas affected the instability of the region, and the development process faced serious challenges. ­ The economic empowerment of rural areas can lead to sustainable rural habitations.