Analysis of The Process of Poverty In The Urban Areas of Khuzestan Province(Case : Ahvaz and Abadan cities)

Nowadays, poverty is one of the most important issues in human societies. The prevalence of poverty in society challenges the development process in economic, social, cultural, etc. dimensions.. Poverty in urban areas, like other phenomena, is affected by various factors. In this study, using the qualitative method and Grounded Theory Strategy, the roots and consequences of poverty in urban areas of Khuzestan province (Ahvaz and Abadan) have been investigated. The participants of the present study were 46 key people including university experts, senior experts of executive bodies (provincial experts, experts of Ahwaz Facilitation Office, social experts of Ahwaz and Abadan governorates), individuals and families living in urban areas of Ahwaz and Abadan. The present study used interview technique to collect data and purposive sampling method to select cases. The interview continued until the theoretical saturation stage was reached. Findings showed that categories such as weak work culture and the normalization of poverty, unemployment and economic stagnation, poor support for the marginalized, weak psychological capital, lack of empowerment of marginalized people, lack of meritocracy, Asymmetric distribution of resources and feelings of discrimination and inequality, inefficiency in urban management, economic and administrative corruption, the weak demand culture of the people and the weakness of adopting a scientific approach in policy-making have all contributed to poverty. According to the results of the research, the outburst of the feeling of being deprived of capabilities was revealed as a central category from the text of the interviews.According to the findings of the research, it can be said that paying attention to strategies such as 1. Promoting work culture in the society, 2. Investing in acute and critical areas and supporting investors, 3. Paying attention to skill training in poor areas, etccan play an important role in combating poverty.