Urban Economics and Planning

Urban Economics and Planning

Criticism and review of the theoretical and methodological framework of research and economic programs of Tabriz municipality

Document Type : Viewpoint

Author
University of Tabriz
Abstract
While the city of Tabriz is plagued by various issues such as non-operational budgeting system, lack of transparency, patronage, low capacity to implement policies and programs, technocracy in decision-making, low productive investment, poverty and regional inequality, unbridled marginalization, non-compliance of the city's institutional structure and similar problems. The often used imitative strategies, instead of being the solution to these indigenous problems, have often become a part of the problem. Blindly adapting strategies from "a best example" of industrialized countries (solution-oriented), and ignoring the problems, conditions and requirements of the native environment of the city of Tabriz, the implementation of those solutions has faced the problem and led to the inability of the city government. "Limited access social order" in the decision and allocation of urban resources has caused the few beneficiaries of the current chaotic situation to continue to put solution-oriented instead of problem-oriented as the basis of their proposed research, programs and policies. The present article, within the framework of the new institutional theory and the art method of economics, while critically examining the translation transfer of solutions from other contexts and trying to place them in a different context such as Tabriz city, concludes that solving the aforementioned challenges depends on the problem-oriented and correct application of theories and models. Of course, the beneficiaries of the status quo will prevent solving the problem in this way. Therefore, the solution is to draw the transition from the existing situation to the desired situation in such a way that instead of trying to completely eliminate the beneficiaries of the existing situation and as a result of provoking their resistance and violence, we engage their interests in productive activities and make the system of decision and allocation of resources inclusive.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 06 December 2025

  • Receive Date 13 November 2025
  • Revise Date 06 December 2025
  • Accept Date 06 December 2025