Analyzing prosperous development of Tehran through the city prosperity initiative (CPI) index
Authors: Arbab Parsa 
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Prosperity is a multifaceted concept that encompasses human well-being through economic and non-economic aspects, as well as material and immaterial attributes. Prosperous development refers to a community’s ability to thrive physically, socially, and psychologically while integrating environmental priorities and social objectives with economic directions. The City Prosperity Initiative (CPI) conceptualizes the broad understanding of human and societal livability and well-being regarding sustainable and inclusive urban development. Hence, this paper aims to elucidate urban prosperity and explore it in Tehran using the CPI Index.

Design/methodology/approach

It was possible to analyze Tehran’s prosperous development by valuing 56 indicators of the CPI Index, which served as a composite indicator based on reliable secondary data from official statistical yearbooks and reports. Instead of employing a global weighting methodology for aggregating sub-dimensions and dimensions, the analysis considered local context and priorities, incorporating insights from experts and scholars. For this purpose, the CPI’s methodology and metadata and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) logic were applied using Expert Choice software.

Findings

Tehran’s overall prosperity score is 47.6 out of 100, indicating a weak and vulnerable status. The asymmetric hexagonal shape of Tehran’s CPI Index reflects the unbalanced development of its urban system. Quality of Life and Infrastructure Development are solid, while Equity and Social Inclusion is fragile. Productivity, Environmental Sustainability and Urban Governance and Legislation are very weak. Thus, environmental unsustainability, low productivity, and inadequate governance and legislation significantly hinder Tehran’s prosperous development. Unsatisfactory conditions of social infrastructure and economic equity exacerbate this problematic situation.

Research limitations/implications

As one of the largest metropolises in the Middle East and one of the globalizing cities from developing countries and emerging economies, Tehran has not yet been studied using the CPI. This study adds Tehran to the limited number of cities analyzed through the CPI. Tehran has surpassed its carrying capacity, and if current trends continue, its quality of life will also be fragile. The city’s environmental challenges are evident, and experts and scholars are well aware of these issues and concerned about the situation.

Originality/value

Despite the difficulty of obtaining accurate and reliable data and the need for a robust weighting system, the CPI framework remains adaptable. It allows for modifications based on the study’s objectives, scale, and context. In addition to the strategies proposed to improve Tehran’s prosperity, enhancing urban prosperity could be expected only through adopting an integrated approach that addresses all dimensions regarding environmental priorities, social objectives, and economic directions, considering the unique needs and preferences of the city at local, regional, national, and transnational planning levels.