Spatial Dependencies Between Urban and Rural Areas and Their Impact on Urban Planning (Case Study: Malayer City and Its Surrounding Villages)

Subject Areas : Urban Management Studies

Afsaneh Eskandari ^{1 *} , Majid Shams ² , شهریار خالدی ³

1 -
2 - Department of Geography, Malayer Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malayer, Iran
3 - عضو هیات علمی دانشگاه شهید بهشتی

Received: 2025-08-08 Accepted : 2025-11-20 Published : 2025-11-20

Keywords: Spatial dependency, urban planning, spatial interactions, peripheral settlements, Malayer City,

Abstract :

In recent decades, the relationships between cities and rural areas have undergone profound transformations. Malayer, as the second most populous city in Hamadan Province, due to its geographical location, economic capabilities, and concentration of service infrastructure, has become the focal point of a surrounding network of villages that are functionally dependent on it in various ways. This study aims to identify and analyze these spatial dependencies and examine their impact on the urban planning process of Malayer. The research method is descriptive-analytical, and data were collected through both documentary and field approaches. The statistical population includes residents of Malayer and four selected nearby villages (Aznav, Namileh, Hajiabad, and Haramabad), as well as experts. Using random sampling proportional to population size, 771 valid questionnaires were collected. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed through content validity and expert opinions, and reliability was verified using Cronbach’s alpha (0.887). Data analysis was conducted using one-sample t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation coefficient.The findings indicate that the spatial dependencies between Malayer and its surrounding villages are mainly evident in four key dimensions: public services, economic infrastructure, social and cultural interactions, and spatial accessibility. The highest level of dependency on Malayer was observed in the use of public services (educational and healthcare), with over 75% of rural respondents utilizing urban facilities. Additionally, the tendency to migrate from villages to the city was higher in villages with weaker local infrastructure, such as Namileh and Hajiabad.

References:

 اسمیت، ن. (۱۳۹۳). توسعه ناموزون: طبیعت، سرمایه و تولید فضا، ترجمه حسین رضوی، تهران: نشر نقد فرهنگ.
 پاپلی یزدی، م ح.، ابراهیمی، ح. (1398). آمایش سرزمین (برنامه‌ریزی فضایی)، تهران: سمت.
 پوراحمد، ا. (۱۳۹۳). تحلیل فضایی روابط نابرابر شهر و روستا در چارچوب نظریه مرکز–پیرامون، فصلنامه پژوهش‌های جغرافیای انسانی، شماره ۷۶، صص ۷۰–۵۵.
 رضوانی، م ر. (1397). تحلیل نظام سکونتگاهی روستایی ایران، تهران: نشر سمت.
 سعیدنیا، ع. (1394). مبانی برنامه‌ریزی شهری و منطقه‌ای، تهران: انتشارات دانشگاه علم و صنعت.
 شریفی، ن.، و همکاران. (1396). نابرابری فضایی و پیامدهای اجتماعی–اقتصادی آن در ایران، فصلنامه جغرافیا و برنامه‌ریزی شهری، شماره 18، صص 77-98.
 شکویی، ح. (1389). جغرافیای ناحیه‌ای ایران، تهران: سمت.
 ماسه، د. (۱۳۹۵). تقسیمات فضایی کار: ساختارهای اجتماعی و جغرافیای تولید، ترجمه فلان، نشر فلان.
 وودز، م. (۱۳۹۴). جغرافیای روستایی: فرآیندها، واکنش‌ها و تجارب در بازسازی روستایی، ترجمه فلان، نشر فلان.
 هاروی، د. (۱۳۸۳). عدالت اجتماعی و شهر، ترجمه کیان تاج‌بخش، تهران: مرکز مطالعات و برنامه‌ریزی شهر تهران.
- Berry, B. J. L. (1976). Urbanization and Counterurbanization. Sage Publications.
- Champion, T., & Hugo, G. (2004). New Forms of Urbanization: Beyond the Urban–Rural Dichotomy. Ashgate.
- Cooke, P. (1983). Theories of Planning and Spatial Development.
- ESPON (2013). Territorial Dynamics in Europe: Urban–Rural Partnerships.
- ESPON (2013). Territorial Monitoring Report.
- Frank, A. G. (1969). Capitalism and Underdevelopment in Latin America. Monthly Review Press.
- Friedmann, J. (1966). Regional Development Policy: A Case Study of Venezuela. MIT Press.
- 9). The Spatial Economy: Cities, Regions and International Trade. MIT Press.
- Gilbert, A., & Gugler, J. (1992). Cities, Poverty and Development. Oxford University Press.
- Harvey, D. (1982). The Limits to Capital. Basil Blackwell.
- Harvey, D. (1973). Social Justice and the City. Edward Arnold.
- Jackson, R., & Sørensen, G. (2013). Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches. Oxford University Press.
- Keohane, R. O., & Nye, J. S. (1977). Power and Interdependence: World Politics in Transition. Little, Brown.
- Myrdal, G. (1957). Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions. Duckworth.
- OECD (2013). Rural–Urban Partnerships: An Integrated Approach to Economic Development.
- Pahl, R. E. (2007). Rural–Urban Dynamics and Social Cohesion. Journal of Rural Studies, 23(1), 65–77.
- Perroux, F. (1950). Economic Space: Theory and Applications. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 64(1), 89–104.
- Rodríguez-Pose, A. (2018). The Revenge of the Places That Don’t Matter. Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 11(1), 189–209.
- Smith, D. M. (1977). Human Geography: A Welfare Approach. Edward Arnold.
- Smith, N. (1984). Uneven Development: Nature, Capital, and the Production of Space. Blackwell.
- Soja, E. W. (1980). The Socio-Spatial Dialectic. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, 70(2), 207–225.
- Tacoli, C. (2006). Rural–Urban Linkages and Pro-Poor Agricultural Growth. World Development, 34(3), 529–547.
- Tacoli, C. (2003). The Links Between Urban and Rural Development. Environment and Urbanization, 15(1), 3–12.
- Tacoli, C. (1998). Rural–Urban Interactions: A Guide to the Literature. Environment and Urbanization, 10(1), 147–166.