Economic Geography Research

Economic Geography Research

Spatio-temporal analysis of physical changes in human settlements in light of the development of the new Arg-e-Bam special economic zone; The case study of Bam and Narmashir counties

Document Type : Articles extracted from Thesis

Authors
Mohammadreza Aboli 1
Ali Hosseini 2
Hossein Mansourian 2
1 Department of Human Geography and Planning, Faculty of Geography, University of Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor Department of Human Geography and Planning, Faculty of of Geography, University of Tehran, Iran
10.30470/jegr.2026.2073683.1335
Abstract
The development of special economic zones as a tool for industrial and economic growth creates significant physical and spatial consequences in the surrounding settlements. This research aimed to investigate the physical, economic, social and environmental effects of the new Arg-e Jadid Bam special economic zone on human settlements in Bam, Barvat and Narmashir counties. The present study is applied and based on a descriptive-analytical method. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire and Google Earth satellite images. The statistical population consisted of 220 indigenous (120 people) and non-indigenous (100 people) residents who were selected purposefully. Four main dimensions including physical, economic, social and environmental indicators were measured. Questionnaire data were analyzed with multiple linear regression and PLS-SEM structural equation modeling, and spatial data were processed with a geographic information system. According to the results of the research data among local residents, poverty and cultural facilities had the greatest impact on the feeling of security, while among non-native residents, physical and mental health were the main factors. Economic satisfaction among natives was influenced by the cost of living, and among non-natives, it was dependent on income, savings, and housing quality. Structural analysis showed that economic and environmental dimensions among natives and social and environmental dimensions among non-natives had the greatest impact on physical changes. Spatial analysis indicated a 540 percent growth in built-up area in Arg Jadidi and a change in the pattern from centralized to dispersed, and in Narmashir, there was an 87 percent growth in construction with minimal reduction in agricultural land. The results highlight the need for policymaking based on group differences and controlling land use changes for sustainable development.
Keywords
Special Economic Zones
Physical Development
New Bam Citadel
Spatial Developments
Sustainable Development

حسینی، علی، زارعی، بهادر، احمدی، سیدعباس، و رستمی، رسول. (1400). تبیین توسعۀ منطقه‌ای با تأکید بر اشتغال در حوزۀ اقتصاد دریا؛ مورد مطالعه: استان بوشهر. مجله آمایش جغرافیایی فضا، 11(39)، 129‑152.

فاضل،رضا ، نقی فقیهی، علی؛ و حجازی,نگین . (1394). بررسی تأثیر توسعه منطقه عسلویه بر کیفیت زندگی (با رویکرد رشد صنعتی).. راهبرد اجتماعی فرهنگی, 4(1)

عبدالهی، حامد، قریشی، محمد‌باسط، و آمار، تیمور. (1403). تحلیل پیامدهای کالبدی تحولات کارکردی سکونتگاه‌های پیراشهری رشت در دو دهه اخیر. مهندسی جغرافیایی سرزمین، 8(4)، 97‑118

عظیمی، آزاده، و میرابوالقاسمی بهابادی، سید‌محمود. (1396). مبانی نظری تحولات توسعه منطقه‌ای. تهران: سازمان انتشارات جهاد دانشگاهی.

علیزاده، توحید، مظلوم‌خراسانی، محمد، و مجدی، علی‌اکبر. (1400). مطالعه پیامدهای اجتماعی و اقتصادی شهرک‌های صنعتی بر نواحی روستایی؛ مورد مطالعه: شهرک‌های صنعتی شهرستان ارومیه. راهبردهای توسعه روستایی، 8(4)، 399‑418.

لطیفی، قائم‌پور. (1396). تأثیر مناطق ویژه اقتصادی بر رفاه و توسعه اجتماعی مناطق شهری و روستایی (مطالعه موردی: منطقه ویژه اقتصادی سلفچگان). برنامه‌ریزی رفاه و توسعه اجتماعی، 7(27)، 197‑232.

زیاری، کرامت‌الله. (1396). مکتب‌ها، نظریه‌ها و مدل‌های برنامه‌ریزی و برنامه‌ریزی منطقه‌ای. دانشگاه تهران.

منصوریان، حسین، رجائی، سیدعباس، عاشوری، حسن، و حاتمی، احمد. (1397). گذار از بازار کار شهری به بازار کار منطقه‌ای در ایران (تحلیلی بر داده‌های جمعیت شناور). برنامه‌ریزی فضایی، 8(1)، 51‑70.

مرکز آمار ایران. (1404). آمارنامه سالانه استان کرمان.

مرکز پژوهش‌های مجلس شورای اسلامی. (1401). گزارش‌های اقتصادی و بررسی قوانین مربوط به مناطق ویژه اقتصادی.

نجفی‌کانی، علی‌اکبر، و متوسلی، بهنام. (1395). نقش شهرک‌های صنعتی در توسعه اقتصادی و اجتماعی شهری و منطقه‌ای؛ مورد مطالعه: شهر مهریز. فصلنامه علمی‑پژوهشی نگرش‌های نو در جغرافیای انسانی، 6(4)، 128‑…

یمانی، عبدالمجید، سالارزهی، حبیب‌اله، و سیدی، فرزانه. (1395). شناسایی و اولویت‌بندی عوامل مؤثر بر نهادینه‌سازی ابعاد اجرایی کارآفرینی سازمانی (مطالعه شرکت کرمان موتور شهرستان بم). پژوهش‌های مدیریت عمومی، 9(31)، 123‑141.

Aggarwal, A. (2017). Towards an Integrated Framework for Special Economic Zones (SEZs): A Dynamic Institutional Approach. Asia Research Centre. Copenhagen Business School. Copenhagen Discussion Papers No. 64
Aggarwal, A. (2023). How special are special economic zones: Evidence from South Asia. The World Economy,
Al‑Mujaddid, T. F., Yulivan, I., & Prakoso, L. Y. (2024). Building a Resilient Society with the Special Economic Zone Concept: A Defense Economic Perspective. Jurnal Pertahanan, 10(2), 321‑328.
Araujo, R. A., Rodrigues Fonseca, P. C., & Antunes, T. S. (2024). A multi‑sector post‑Kaleckian growth model of structural change. Review of Political Economy, 36(4), 1635‑1653.
Biłozor, A., Cieślak, I., & Czyża, S. (2020). An analysis of urbanisation dynamics with the use of the fuzzy set theory—A case study of the city of Olsztyn. Remote Sensing, 12(11), 1784.
Botta, A., Porcile, G., & Ribeiro, R. (2018). Economic development, technical change and income distribution: A conversation between Keynesians, Schumpeterians and Structuralists. PSL Quarterly Review, 71(285).
Braimah, E. S., Gberevbie, D. E., Chidozie, F., & Osimen, G. U. (2025). Assessing the effect of international migration on the livelihood of the Bini people of Edo State, Nigeria. International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies, 8(1), 343‑354.
Butowski, L. (2010). Tourism as a development factor in the light of regional development theories. Turyzm, 20(1), 5‑10.
Cieslik, A. (2025). Political economy of special economic zones location in Poland. Journal of Economics & Management, 47, 1‑24.
Cvetanović, S., Filipović, M., Nikolić, M., & Belović, D. (2015). Endogenous growth theory and regional development policy. Spatium, 10‑17.
Farole, T., & Akinci, G. (Eds.). (2011). Special economic zones: progress, emerging challenges, and future directions. World Bank Publications.
Gilbert, K. M., & Shi, Y. (2023). Urban Growth Monitoring and Prediction Using Remote Sensing Urban Monitoring Indices Approach and Integrating CA‑Markov Model: A Case Study of Lagos City, Nigeria. Sustainability, 16(1), 30.
Jaman, U. B. (2023). Legal Analysis of the Impact of Industrial Development on the Environment. The Easta Journal Law and Human Rights.
Janků, J., Heřmanová, K., Kozák, J., Jehlička, J., Maitah, M., Němeček, K., & Herza, T. (2020). Industrial zones and their benefits for society.
Kalu, K., & Aniche, E. T. (2025). The Political Economy of China’s Special Economic Zones and Adaptability of Developmental State Model of Industrialisation in Africa: Evidence from Nigeria. Journal of Public Affairs, 25(1), e70018.
Lewis, E., & Peri, G. (2015). Immigration and the economy of cities and regions. In G. Duranton, J. V. Henderson, & W. C. Strange (Eds.), Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics (Vol. 5, pp. 625‑685). Elsevier.
Lorentzen, D. M. C. & McNeil, M. A. (2020). Electricity demand of non‑residential buildings in Mexico. Sustainable Cities and Society, 59, 102165.
Ma, W., Jiang, G., Li, W., & Zhou, T. (2018). How do population decline, urban sprawl and industrial transformation impact land use change in rural residential areas? A comparative regional analysis at the peri‑urban interface. Journal of Cleaner Production, 205, 76‑85.
Mejia, S. A. (2024). The effects of debt dependence on economic growth in less developed countries, 1990–2019. Social Science Research, 117, 102943.
Moberg, L., & Reil, S. (2018). Refugee special economic zones. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 7(3), 290‑303.
Moore, J. W. (Ed.). (2016). Anthropocene or Capitalocene?: Nature, history, and the crisis of capitalism. PM Press.
Nallathiga, R. (2007). Potential of Special Economic Zones in Promoting Industrial and Regional Economic Development: An AnalysisΨ.
O’Donnell, R. (2024). Logic and Economics I: Synthesis Neoclassicism. Review of Political Economy, 36(2), 610‑633.
Petrova, E., & Usacheva, I. (2023). Cognitive analysis of sustainable regional economic growth factors. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 402, p. 08009). EDP Sciences.
Pozoukidou, G., & Chatziyiannaki, Z. (2021). 15‑Minute City: Decomposing the new urban planning eutopia. Sustainability, 13(2), 928.
Sabattini, N. (2022). International Labor Migration and Care: The Case of Southeast Asian Workers in Japan.
Shi, L., Han, L., Yang, F., & GAO, L. (2019). The evolution of sustainable development theory: Types, goals, and research prospects. Sustainability, 11(24), 7158.
Syamni, G., Juliansyah, H., Andriyani, D., Ulfa, N., & Bahri, S. (2025). The development of Arun Lhokseumawe special economic zone to increase Aceh’s economic growth. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1490, No. 1, p. 012045). IOP Publishing.
Wang, J. (2013). The economic impact of special economic zones: Evidence from Chinese municipalities. Journal of Development Economics, 101, 133‑147.
Yang, Z., Wang, Y., & Liu, Z. (2019). Improving socially inclusive development in fast urbanized area: Investigate livelihoods of immigrants and non‑immigrants in Nansha Special Economic Zone in China. Habitat International, 86, 10‑18.
 
 
Economic Geography Research
Volume 7, Issue 23
Spring 2026
Pages 138-159

  • Receive Date 07 October 2025
  • Revise Date 23 November 2025
  • Accept Date 04 January 2026