The effect of country divisions on the regional-urban inequality in Northern Khorasan

The effect of country divisions on the regional-urban inequality in Northern Khorasan
In the last few decades, minimizing spaces has been implemented by current government not only to facilitate planning of development but also to have more control on local-regional spaces. To achieve this goal, performing the strategy of country divisions has been included in government agenda.  Present study aims at investigating and analyzing the government’s approach in country divisions as well as the effects on the regional-urban inequality in Northern Khorasan province. Therefore, not only quantitative models and statistical software but also analytic-descriptive method has been used to determinate the relationship between country divisions and regional-urban inequality in Northern Khorasan province. The criteria (including social, economic, hygienic and physical) were prioritized based on the level of importance. Then, several measurable indicators have been selected and tested. The findings indicate an inequality among cities, especially the significant gap that exists between Bojnourd and other cities of the regions.  Using change variance (CV) model and marking Z of the cities in the region, it is determined that the Bojnourd city itself is placed in first rank according to 6 criterions out of 10 selected criterions. Moreover, there is a clear gap between Bojnourd with Z value equals to 8. 57. Second city of the region is Shirvan, with amount of Z equals to 3. 54.  Thus, the findings reveal that the most significant influence of country divisions on the regional-urban space in Northern Khorasan was in 2004. These effects have been more obvious on the primary urban phenomenon. The research has been carried out using rank-size model showing that Bojnourd with its official-political function has strengthened its centrality and experienced the structural changes more tangible than other cities in the province.
Extend Abstract
1-Introduction
In the last few decades, governments sought to minimize the spaces to facilitate planning, development and to control local-regional spaces more,.  So, they have performed political-official divisions in a local and regional background. A part of the development, related to territorial, functional and structural changes, has happened in Northern Khorasan in which it was divided into political organization of East and North-East of Iran. It seems that the emergence of Northern Khorasan province and influence of this political approach to centralization also fueled inequalities. The present study aims to analyze the political approach in which some findings have been presented to identify regional urban imbalance to other municipalities of the province. On the other hand the political and political-administrative divisions plan an important role in the imbalance in supply and demand of urban structures (supply and demand for land and housing, employment, civil service, etc.) and in the formation of inequalities caused by the approach state political centralization and imbalance in the hierarchy of urban population and reinforce the primacy city in the Northern Khorasan.
2- Materials and Methods
This is a kind of application-development study in which, following cross-sectional method, required data have been collected by statistical sources related to population and housing census in Northern Khorasan province, Statistical Yearbook Province and relevant organizations collected. Moreover, coefficient of variation (CV) and rank - size were used to recognize the area of ​​urban inequality and political analysis approach (decision to implement administrative divisions). Besides, data table was presented to make study and determine inequality of the city and the area of ​​interest. To determine the rate and coefficient of variations in each region, 10 different criteria were selected. So, the coefficient of variation (CV) was applied to determine the level of regional inequality. Besides, the formula for determining the rank-size hierarchy has been used in Northern Khorasan province.
3- Results and discussion
 The implementation administrative tasks with a radius regional and political centrality leads to centralization of population and structural changes in the central city. Bojnourd functional-structural evolution in historical periods reflects the importance of seeking and consolidating its position as a major regional center. One important reason for the centralization and centrality in Northern Khorasan Bojnord is the far distance from Mashhad (Regional Center North East of Iran) and Gorgan (large cities and centers of local-regional integration) which are located in of Razavi Khorasan and Golestan respectively. As a matter of fact, providing professional services, creating employment opportunities and other important urban centers have always been making a kind of  convergence and concentration. Besides, government investment and attention to the development of local-regional strategies provide concentration. With this trend in the study area, regional inequalities  is detected and city facilities and infrastructure of Bojnourd has been found.
 4- Conclusion
 Performing of professional tasks, like currency and commodity exchanges, customs administration, creation and deployment of international exhibitions, and specialized hospitals lead to professional performance of regional centrality. The regional center has led to specialized functions. The findings proves an inequality among cities especially the significant gap that exists between Bojnourd and other cities of the region. Using change variance (CV) model and marking Z of the cities in the region, it is determined that the Bojnourd city itself is placed in first rank according to 6 criterions out of 10 selected criterions. Moreover, there is a clear gap between Bojnourd with Z value equals to 8. 57. Second city of the region is Shirvan, with amount of Z equals to 3. 54.  The result of regional evaluation suggests that promotion and political changes have had the highest influence on the primary urban phenomenon. The research has been carried out using rank-size model which shows that Bojnourd, with its official-political function, has strengthened its centrality. Besides, the population density has put it at the beginning of urban hierarchy of the region leading to structural changes.