Historical GDP per capita development in Iran

Prior to 1979, Iran's economic development was rapid. Traditionally an agrarian society, by the 1970s the country had undergone significant industrialization and economic modernization.[1][2] This pace of growth had slowed dramatically by 1978 as capital flight reached $30 to $40 billion 1980 US dollars just before the revolution.[3]

After the Revolution of 1979, Iran's government proceeded with 4 reforms:

  1. First they nationalized all industry, including the NIOC, and all Iranian banks.
  2. The new Constitution divided the economy in 3 different sectors, namely "State", "Cooperative" and "Private", with the majority being state-owned businesses.
  3. The Government started using central planning to control the economy, having the Supreme Leader, the President and Majlis creating 5-year socio-economic plans.
  4. The State took control of setting prices and subsidies.

The government's long-term objectives since the revolution have been economic independence, full employment, and a comfortable standard of living for citizens, but at the end of the 20th century, the country's economy faced many obstacles.[4] Iran's population more than doubled between 1980 and 2000 and grew increasingly younger. Although a relatively large number of Iranians are farmers, agricultural production has consistently fallen since the 1960s. By the late 1990s, Iran had become a major importer of food. At that time, economic hardship in the countryside resulted in vast numbers of people moving to cities.[3]

The eight-year war with Iraq claimed at least 300,000 Iranian lives and injured more than 500,000. The cost of the war to the country's economy was some $500 billion.[5][6] After hostilities with Iraq ceased in 1988, the government tried to develop the country's communication, transportation, manufacturing, health care, education and energy sectors (including its prospective nuclear power facilities), and began the process of integrating its communication and transportation infrastructure with that of neighboring states.[7]

Since 2004, Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Ahmadinejad have tried to implement reforms that will lead to the privatization of Iran but they haven't worked out yet, making Iran a command economy in transition towards a market economy.

Pahlavi Era (1925–79)

Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1925–41) improved the country's overall infrastructure, implemented educational reform, campaigned against foreign influence, reformed the legal system, and introduced modern industries. During this time, Iran experienced a period of social change, economic development, and relative political stability.[8]

In the interwar period, modern industries were introduced. Whereas fewer than 20 modern industrial plants existed in 1925, by 1941 more than 800 new plants had been established, with the intention of reducing the country's dependence on imports. The state encouraged industrialization by raising tariffs, financing modern industries, and imposing government monopolies. Changes in the legal system, tax structure, and trade policies attracted domestic financial resources and led to the emergence of a group of new, young entrepreneurs. The shah's court became the biggest investor in the new industries. Primarily by confiscating real estate, the shah himself became the country's richest man. Increased investment in mining, construction, and the manufacturing sector occurred, and infrastructure investment grew significantly. Iran had only 250 kilometers of railroads and 2,400 kilometers of gravel roads in 1925; by 1938 these totals had increased to 1,700 and 12,000 kilometers, respectively. Industrial growth was not balanced, however. Integration among sectors and industries was absent, and the new industries met only part of the growing domestic demand. Agriculture, from which 90 percent of the labor force made its living, did not benefit from economic reform. Furthermore, the expanding areas of the economy were not labor-intensive. Modern sectors (Caspian Sea fisheries, railroads, seaports, the oil industry, modern factories, and coal fields) absorbed a total of only about 170,000 workers, less than 4 percent of the labor force.[8]

The government managed the expansion of international trade by techniques such as the foreign exchange controls imposed in 1936. Many new items were among the imported goods required by industry, the military, railroads, and other areas of infrastructure investment. Traditional agricultural and industrial export products were replaced by oil exports. Germany became Iran's primary trading partner by 1940, accounting for 42 percent of its foreign trade; the United States was second, with 23 percent. The Soviet Union also was a major trading partner in this period. Despite many advances in domestic and foreign economic policy, however, Iran remained an exporter of raw materials and traditional goods and an importer of both consumer and capital goods in the years before World War II.[8]

Reza Shah Pahlavi, who abdicated in 1941, was succeeded by his son, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi (r. 1941–79). In 1951, Prime Minister Mosaddegh nationalized the Iranian oil industry. The UK responded with an oil embargo on Iran, and eventually, with the US, backed a successful coup against Prime Minister Mosaddegh in 1953. After the western removal of the democratically elected government of Iran, between 1954 and 1960 a rapid increase in oil revenues and sustained western foreign aid led to greater investment and fast-paced economic growth, primarily in the government sector. Subsequently, inflation increased, the value of the national currency (the rial) depreciated, and a foreign-trade deficit developed. Economic policies implemented to combat these problems led to declines in the rates of nominal economic growth and per capita income by 1961.[8]

Abadan Refinery, built 1913.

In response to these setbacks, Iran initiated its third economic development plan (1962–68) with an emphasis on industrialization. New economic policies significantly altered the role of the private sector. The expansion of private and public banks, as well as the establishment of two specialized banks, provided reliable credit markets for medium- and large-scale private manufacturing enterprises. Not limited to cheap credit, government programs also included a wide range of incentives to encourage investment in new industries by both Iranian and foreign businesses. Most new investment was a joint effort between either the public sector and foreign investors or private businesses and foreign corporations. Investment in roads, highways, dams, bridges, and seaports also increased. With government support, part of the agricultural sector also attracted significant investment. Many large-scale agricultural operations in meat, dairy products, and fruit production were established. Small-scale farmers, however, did not benefit from the new investment opportunities.[8]

Under the fourth and the fifth economic development plans (1968–73; 1973–78), the Iranian economy became increasingly open to imports and foreign investment. A combination of oil revenues, public spending, and foreign and domestic investments enlarged the middle class in major cities, particularly Tehran. In the wake of the spike in crude oil prices that followed the 1973 war pitting Egypt and Syria against Israel, the process of industrialization and consumption grew rapidly. Between 1973 and 1977, the specialized banks provided more than 200 billion rials to the manufacturing sector, and the increase in investment averaged 56 percent per year. A flood of imported goods and raw materials overwhelmed the capacity of seaports and warehouses. The military was also a beneficiary of the new economic and social conditions. Military personnel, modern artillery and equipment, and military training absorbed a major part of the budget.[8]

Shah's portrait at the 1000 Iranian rial bank note

Between fiscal year 1964 and FY 1978, Iran's gross national product grew at an annual rate of 13.2 percent at constant prices. The oil, gas, and construction industries expanded by almost 500 percent during this period, while the share of value-added manufacturing increased by 4 percent. Women's participation in the labor force in urban areas increased. Large numbers of urban Iranian women, from varying social strata, joined the semiskilled and skilled labor forces. In addition, the number of women enrolling in higher education increased from 5,000 in FY 1967 to more than 74,000 in FY 1978.[8]

Economic growth, however, became increasingly dependent on oil revenues in the 1970s. By 1977, oil revenues had reached US$20 billion per year (79 percent of total government revenues). Other sectors of the economy and regions of the country did not experience a uniform pattern of growth during this period. Agriculture, traditional and semi-traditional industries, and the services sector did not thrive to the same extent as the “modern” state-sponsored manufacturing industries, which accounted for only 6 percent of industrial employment. As employment opportunities in rural areas and traditional industries decreased, public employment in urban areas increased. The proportion of self-employed Iranians remained stable.[8]

Accelerated development of the middle class was a major outcome of the 1960s and 1970s. Among this class were the new professional intelligentsia, called motekhassesin (experts). Their common denominator was the professional, cultural, or administrative expertise acquired through modern education. Nevertheless, the patterns of economic growth and regional development along with the political underdevelopment of the shah's regime in areas such as civil institutions, human rights, and property rights limited opportunities for the majority of Iranians to develop fully their social and economic potential. Economic and social polarization minimized competition among businesses and limited development to the part of the economy concerned with the interests of dominant groups closely tied to the shah's court and the state. Most Iranians were excluded from political and economic decision making.[8]

After the 1979 revolution

Iran: GDP, CPI and Current account data (1980-2010)

According to the 1979 Iranian Constitution, it is the duty of the Islamic government to furnish all citizens with equal and appropriate opportunities, to provide them with work, and to satisfy their essential needs, so that the course of their progress may be assured.[9] Iran's long-term objectives since the 1979 revolution have been economic independence, full employment, and a comfortable standard of living for citizens, but at the end of the 20th century, the country's economic future faces many obstacles. Iran's population more than doubled in a 20-year period, with an increasingly young population. Although a relatively large part of the population engages in farming, agricultural production has fallen consistently since the 1960s. By the late 1990s, Iran was a major food importer, and economic hardship in the countryside had driven vast numbers of people to migrate to cities.

The rates of literacy and life expectancy in Iran are high for the region, but so is the unemployment rate, and inflation is in the range of 20% annually. Iran remains highly dependent on one major industry, the extraction of petroleum and natural gas for export, and the government faces increasing difficulty in providing opportunities for a younger, better educated workforce. Such lack of opportunities has led to a growing sense of frustration among lower- and middle-class Iranians.

Following the nationalizations in 1979 and the outbreak of the Iran–Iraq War, over 80% of Iran's economy came under the control of the government.[10] After the end of hostilities with Iraq in 1988, the government tried to develop the country's communication, transportation, manufacturing, health care, education and energy infrastructures (including its prospective nuclear power facilities) and has begun the process of integrating its communication and transportation infrastructure with that of neighboring states.[11] It is estimated that Iran sustained a loss of $500 billion through the Iraq war.[12]

In 1996, the U.S. Government passed the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) which prohibits U.S. (and non-U.S. companies) from investing and trading with Iran for more than $20 million annually,[13] with the exception, since 2000, for items like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment.

Overview of Iran's successive economic plans (1991–2010)

Plans (main data sources: Iranian Parliament & Ministry of Commerce)[14][15] 1991–2001 (achieved) 2005–10 (target) 2009–10 (achieved)
Number of articles to be implemented in the plan — 290 117
Economic growth 3.9% on average 8% on average 6.3% on average (2006–10)
Liquidity growth 27.3% on average <20% on average 33% on average
Inflation 23% on average <10% on average 16% on average
Unemployment rate — 11% by 2010 12% on average (2005–10)
Jobs creation per year by 2010 — 848,000 jobs/year 725,000 jobs/year
Labor productivity growth 1.3% on average 3.5% —
Investment growth 4.3% on average 12.2% —
Population growth 1.5% on average 1.4% —
Non-oil export growth 5.6% on average 10.7% —
Technology access index — 0.45 0.26
Ratio of research expenditures to GDP 0.4% (2001)[16] 2.5% 0.87%
Ratio of high-tech exports to total non-oil exports — 6 2
New oil and gas fields discovered (2005–10) — — 19 new oilfields and eight new gas reserves[17]
Ratio of the expenditures of top 10% to bottom 10% households 19.4 (2001) — 14
Gini coefficient 0.43 (2001) — 0.38 according to government
Social welfare index 423 (2001) — 800
Population below the poverty line (the middle 50%) 15% (2001) — 7% according to government
Penetration rate – mobile users — 50%[18] 60% (2009)[19]
Fixed telephone lines — 36 million fixed lines[18] 24.8 million (2008)[20]
Internet users — 30 million users[18] 23 million (2008)[20]

Socio-economic development plan (2010–2015)

Fifth Economic Development Plan (2010–15)
Item2010 (achieved)2010–15 (target)
GDP world ranking18th largest economy by PPP[21]12th in 2015; Goldman Sachs estimate: 12th by 2025
Annual growth rate2.6%8% on average (based on $1.1 trillion domestic and FDI);[22][23] BMI forecast: 3.6% on average (2009–14)[24]
Unemployment11.8% according to government; unofficially: 12–22%;[25] 30% according to opposition[26]7% by 2015, by creating 1 million new jobs each year[22]
Inflation rate15% (as of January 2010)12% on average[22]
Value Added Tax3%8%[27]
Privatization—20% of state-owned firms to be privatized each year[28]
Share of cooperative sector (% GDP)< 5%[29]25%[30]
R&D (% GDP)0.87%2.5%[31]
Share of non-oil exports20%30% ($83 billion) by 2016[22][27][32]
Oil price & revenues in budget$60 per barrel$65 per barrel on average[22] / $250 billion in oil and gas revenues[33] in 2015 once the current projects come on stream; International Monetary Fund projections: ~$60 billion only[34]
National Development Fund—30% of oil revenues to be allocated to the National Development Fund by 2015[35]
Oil production4.1 million bpd5.2 million bpd (with some 2,500 oil and gas wells to be drilled and commissioned)[36]
Natural gas production—900 million cubic meter/day
R&D projects in oil industry—Implementation of 380 research projects by 2015 covering the enhancement of the recovery rate, gas conversion and hydro conversion[37]
Investment in oil and gas industry—$20 billion a year in private and foreign investment, in part to boost oil refining capacity[22][38]
Petrochemical output~50 million tpy100 million tpy[39][40]
Bunkering25% market share in Persian Gulf50% market share or 7.5 million  tpy of liquid fuel[41]
Oil products storage capacity11.5 billion liters16.7 billion liters
Natural gas storage capacity—14 billion cubic meters
Electricity generation capacity61,000 MW86,000 MW[42]
Efficiency of power plants38%45%[43]
Investment in mining and industry—$70 billion/700,000 billion rials[44]
Crude steel production~10 million tpy42 million tpy by 2015[44]
Iron ore production~27 million tpy66 million tpy by 2015[44]
Cement~71 million tpy110 million tpy[44]
Limestone—166 million tpy[44]
Industrial parks—50 new industrial parks to be built by 2015[45]
Ports capacity150 million tons200 million tons[46]
Railways10,000 kilometers[47]15,000 kilometers by 2015 at a cost of $8 billion per annum[48]
Transit7 million tons40 million tons of goods[49]
Electronic trade—20% of domestic trade, 30% of foreign trade and 80% of government transactions to be made electronically[50]

Historical economic charts

See also

References

  1. ↑ Iran's Industrial Progresses (Part I) on YouTube. Iran National Film Centre (circa 1975). Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  2. ↑ Iran's Industrial Progresses (Part II) on YouTube. Iran National Film Centre (circa 1975). Retrieved January 20, 2010.
  3. 1 2 Shirin Hakimzadeh. Iran: A Vast Diaspora Abroad and Millions of Refugees at Home Archived 2009-09-20 at the Wayback Machine. Migration information source (2006). Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  4. ↑ Gheissari, Ali (2009). Contemporary Iran: Economy, Society, Politics. USA: Oxford University Press. pp. 7–8 (Paperback edition). ISBN 978-0-19-537849-8.
  5. ↑ "Iran-Iraq war". Microsoft Encarta. 2008.
  6. ↑ Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) Archived 2011-02-28 at the Wayback Machine. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
  7. ↑ "Iranian Economy in Six Snapshots". Payam-e Emruz; Economic, Social, Cultural (Monthly). February 2001. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-11-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ↑ University of Bern; Iranian Constitution summary Retrieved November 30, 2009 Archived November 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Bonyad-e Mostazafan va Janbazan Oppressed and Disabled Veterans Foundation (MJF) Archived 2011-11-06 at the Wayback Machine. Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Iranian Economy in Six Snapshots". Payam-e Emruz; Economic, Social, Cultural (Monthly). 2001-02-23. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-07-17.
  12. ↑ MSN Encarta: Iran-Iraq War Retrieved January 29, 2009. Archived 2009-10-31.
  13. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-19. Retrieved 2017-06-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2010-04-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ↑ "irantradelaw.com" (PDF). www.irantradelaw.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  16. ↑ "Medical Science and Research in Iran". www.ams.ac.ir. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  17. ↑ Irandaily | No. 3832 | Domestic Economy | Page 4 Archived 2010-11-28 at the Wayback Machine
  18. 1 2 3 Atieh Bahar – Resources – Iran telecom Brief Archived February 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1387/3317/html/economy.htm%5B%5D
  20. 1 2 "The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  21. ↑ World Economic Outlook Database – Report for Selected Countries and Subjects Archived 2017-12-29 at the Wayback Machine. International Monetary Fund (2009). Retrieved November 29, 2010.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Iran five-year plan targets annual 8% growth. Agence France Presse, January 11, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2010.
  23. ↑ Iran approves $1.6b of foreign investment plans Archived April 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, April 21, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  24. ↑ Iran Commercial Banking Report Archived February 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Business Monitor International (Q1 2009). Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  25. ↑ Cracks Start to Show in Iran's Economy as U.S. Touts Sanctions Archived 2010-12-29 at the Wayback Machine. Fox News, December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  26. ↑ Prices in Iran rise after lifting of subsidies. Los Angeles Times, December 23, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  27. 1 2 Iran Investment Monthly Archived 2012-03-06 at the Wayback Machine. Turquoise Partners (December 2010). Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  28. ↑ Iran to privatize 186 state-run companies: official Archived May 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, May 11, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2014.
  29. ↑ Cooperatives Share Meager in Economy Archived 2016-03-08 at the Wayback Machine. Financial Tribune, May 9, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  30. ↑ Invest in Iran Archived 2017-12-29 at the Wayback Machine. Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran, Winter 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
  31. ↑ – The foreign trade regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ministry of Commerce (Iran) (2009). Retrieved April 8, 2010.
  32. ↑ Iran plans $160 billion annual trade turnover by 2016 Archived May 27, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, May 23, 2012. Retrieved June 3, 2012.
  33. ↑ Iran eyes $250 billion annual revenue in 5 years Archived 2011-01-07 at the Wayback Machine. Mehr News Agency, December 22, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2010.
  34. ↑ 2010 Staff report Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. IMF (March 2010). Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  35. ↑ Iran’s NDF allocates $7b to upstream oil projects Archived July 14, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  36. ↑ Oil Minister: Iran Self-Sufficient in Drilling Industry Archived June 6, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Fars News Agency, January 9, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  37. ↑ Oil Industry Will Carry Out 380 Research Projects Archived 2012-11-03 at the Wayback Machine. Iran Daily, April 12, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  38. ↑ South Pars attracts $15b in domestic investment Archived 2017-06-05 at the Wayback Machine. Mehr News Agency, June 15, 2010. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  39. ↑ Iran to build 46 new petchem units Archived 2011-06-13 at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, January 13, 2010. Retrieved January 30, 2010.
  40. ↑ $44b investment for 64 petchem projects Archived 2011-06-14 at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  41. ↑ Bunkering Sector Flourishing Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. Iran Daily, October 26, 2010. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  42. ↑ Iran to boost power generation capacity by 25,000MW. Tehran Times, October 26, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  43. ↑ Iran Top Producer of Hydroelectric Power Plants. Zawya, April 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 Mining Sector Exports Hit $8b Archived 2011-06-29 at the Wayback Machine. Iran Daily, July 4, 2010. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  45. ↑ Economy, News. National Geoscience Database of Iran (2010). Retrieved July 24, 2010.
  46. ↑ Ports Capacity to Increase Archived 2012-04-01 at the Wayback Machine. Iran Daily, December 27, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  47. ↑ Iran to extend rail network to 15,000 kilometers by 2015 Archived February 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Tehran Times, January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
  48. ↑ Iran Investment Monthly Archived 2011-08-09 at the Wayback Machine. Turquoise Partners (January 2011). Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  49. ↑ Transportation Archived 2014-03-14 at the Wayback Machine. Organization for Investment and Technical Assistance of Iran, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
  50. ↑ Electronic trade up Archived 2012-01-15 at the Wayback Machine. Iran Daily, October 6, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  51. ↑ The Tehran Stock Exchange: A Maverick Performer?, Middle East Economic Survey, May 23, 2005
  52. ↑ "Iran Inflation Rate". index Mondi. Archived from the original on 2010-12-29.
  53. ↑ UNDP.org Archived 2009-11-16 at the Wayback Machine Table H
  54. ↑ Burkhart, Grey, ed. (March 1998), "Iran", National Security and the Internet in the Persian Gulf Region, Georgetown University, archived from the original on 2007-07-03, retrieved 2009-07-15
  55. ↑ "Telecoms And Technology Forecast for Iran", Telecoms and technology, Economist Intelligence Unit, 18 June 2008
  56. ↑ Iran daily:Energy Wastage Criticized. Retrieved April 15, 2009.

Bibliography

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