Spatial inequality in Tehran, a structural explanation

The study presents a political economic analysis of spatial inequality in Tehran focusing on four sectors of social reproduction, namely, housing, healthcare, education, and transportation. The study argues that spatial inequality is rooted in the peculiarities of Iranian capitalism. Struggling with low productivity, the manufacturing sector needs wages to remain low and unemployment to remain high in order to maintain profits. Bringing urban amenities and resources into the market is the second strategy, a process facilitated by the state. The study also discusses the role of the luxury market in neutralising the anticipated negative feedback mechanism of low effective demand.