This study aims to identify and prioritize sociological and institutional barriers affecting rural economic development in Ilam Province. Rural development is a fundamental pillar of balanced regional development and the reduction of spatial inequalities. However, despite significant natural and human capacities, many rural areas of Ilam face structural barriers rooted in sociological and institutional factors.





The research adopts a qualitative and exploratory approach and employs the Delphi technique with the participation of 18 experts and specialists familiar with rural development issues in Ilam Province. The data collection process was conducted in three Delphi rounds. In the first round, initial barriers were identified. In the second round, their importance was evaluated using a Likert-scale questionnaire, and in the third round, expert consensus on the importance and prioritization of the barriers was achieved. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical indicators and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance.





The findings indicate that the barriers to rural economic development can be classified into four main dimensions: economic, social, cultural, and institutional. Major economic barriers include weak production and marketing infrastructure, limited access to financial and credit resources, and high dependence on traditional economic sectors. Social barriers include declining social capital, migration of young and skilled labor from rural areas, and weak social participation. From a cultural perspective, conservative attitudes toward entrepreneurship, weak innovation culture, and the dominance of fatalistic views hinder economic activities. Institutional barriers include centralized decision-making, administrative bureaucracy, weak coordination among institutions responsible for rural development, and inefficiency of some supportive policies. The prioritization results show that institutional and social barriers have the greatest impact on the slow pace of economic development in rural areas of Ilam Province.