Rural Development Factors with an Emphasis on the Role of Cooperatives in Guilan Province, Iran

Rural development is a process involving local people in solving their problems. as a strategy designed to improve the social and economic well-being of rural populations, rural development undoubtedly supports nation-wide development in a country like iran with a rural-based society. the constitution of the islamic republic of iran stipulates that rural development should be viewed as a key function of the government. this paper aims to determine factors that constitute rural development in guilan province (north of iran). the present study examined 75 rural development indices derived from official documents. they were then standardized and classified according to six factors using the numerical taxonomy approach:human resources, infrastructure costs, socio-cultural costs, economic performance, location and natural resources, and rural management. share of each factor was rated by statistical analysis. the results of the analysis showed a negligible change in rural management and economic costs,while other factors remained constant and no change was made to the impact status and rank of the six factors germane to rural development. the studies recommends revising the economic structure and rural management of the province based on cooperatives.