Structural Dimensions of Resource Waste in Iran: A Multidimensional Barrier to Sustainable Development

Abstract

This study introduces a multidimensional framework for analyzing resource waste in Iran, shifting the focus from conventional technical and managerial perspectives to deeper structural and institutional dynamics. Resource waste is categorized into six domains—political, economic, human, knowledge-based, cultural–social, and systemic—and assessed using expert evaluations and psychometric validation tools. The findings reveal that governance inefficiencies, lack of meritocracy, opaque privatization practices, and intellectual marginalization are key drivers of waste. Two conceptual innovations are proposed: Knowledge Waste, defined as the failure to convert intellectual capital into actionable development strategies, and Systemic Constraints as Waste, highlighting how centralized control and restricted access to information hinder reform and institutional learning. These insights suggest that resource waste in Iran is not merely a technical or administrative issue, but a reflection of deeper misalignments in governance, policy, and institutional culture. Addressing it requires coordinated reforms across legal frameworks, educational systems, and civic institutions. Policy recommendations include enhancing transparency and accountability, reforming privatization policies, integrating academic expertise into policymaking, and cultivating merit-based leadership. While the framework is grounded in the Iranian context, its multidimensional structure offers analytical relevance for other post-transition and developing societies facing similar institutional challenges. The proposed model provides a foundation for future research and policy innovation aimed at sustainable development, particularly in contexts where structural inefficiencies and governance limitations impede progress.