بررسی عوامل مؤثر بر ارتقاء زیست پذیری با رویکرد حکمروایی شهری مطالعه موردی: شهر بوشهر

ABSTRACT
Rapid urbanization and the emergence of complex economic, social, and environmental challenges—such as rising unemployment, poverty and inequality, inadequate urban services, insufficient infrastructure, environmental degradation, the expansion of deteriorated urban fabrics, social marginalization, and the inefficiency of centralized urban management systems—have significantly undermined urban quality of life. In this context, the adoption of good urban governance has become essential for improving urban livability. This study aimed to examine the influence of good urban governance indicators on urban livability in Bushehr City, Iran. The research was applied in purpose and employed a descriptive–survey methodology. Data were collected using a 40-item questionnaire developed based on a review of the literature and previous empirical studies. The questionnaire evaluated key dimensions of good urban governance, including participation, equity, consensus orientation, efficiency and effectiveness, rule of law, transparency, responsibility, and accountability. The statistical population consisted of university academics, urban managers, and experts familiar with urban planning issues in Bushehr, from whom 40 respondents were selected through purposive sampling. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 21 and LISREL software. The results indicated that transparency (0.90), responsibility (0.89), and equity (0.82) had the strongest effects on enhancing urban livability in Bushehr. The findings suggest that achieving a more livable city requires active citizen participation, decentralization of authority and responsibilities, and strengthening the role of civil society institutions, the private sector, and local communities. Accordingly, urban management in Bushehr should adopt inclusive and operational planning strategies to expand citizen involvement in policymaking, decision-making, monitoring, and implementation processes.
Extended Abstract
Introduction
In response to the escalation of these challenges, the concept of improving quality of life—closely associated with urban livability—has gained increasing attention in urban studies literature over recent decades, alongside the paradigms of sustainable development and sustainable urban development. In its broad and fundamental sense, livability refers to the achievement of a high quality of life and can be understood as the capacity of a place to provide favorable living conditions through effective urban planning and sustainable spatial development. Extensive discussions surrounding the concept of livability address issues such as sustainability, transportation, vibrant environments, and various social dimensions, indicating that achieving urban livability—often equated with a successful city—depends on environmental vitality, ecological sustainability, and the effective resolution of social, economic, environmental, and cultural challenges. Bushehr City, the capital of Bushehr Province, similar to many other cities in Iran, faces numerous challenges that have complicated effective urban management. Rising unemployment, poverty and inequality, inadequate quality and quantity of urban services, insufficient infrastructure, increasing environmental pollution, the expansion of deteriorated and inefficient urban fabrics, informal settlements, and the proliferation of social problems have collectively contributed to a significant decline in urban livability. Addressing these challenges and improving quality of life and urban livability are unlikely to be achieved under traditional and centralized urban management models without appropriate planning frameworks, strengthened urban governance, and enhanced citizen participation.
One of the contemporary approaches to urban management is the model of good urban governance, which has been promoted by the United Nations as a means of enhancing sustainability and reducing poverty in developing countries. Accordingly, the primary objective of this study is to examine the factors of good urban governance that influence the enhancement of urban livability in Bushehr City, with particular emphasis on identifying the governance indicators that exert the greatest impact on improving urban livability
 
Methodology
This study was applied in purpose and employed a descriptive–survey research design. The research indicators were developed based on an extensive review of the relevant literature and previous empirical studies. Eight key dimensions of good urban governance were examined, including participation, equity, consensus orientation and community-centeredness, efficiency and effectiveness, rule of law, transparency, responsibility, and accountability. These dimensions were measured using a 40-item questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 40 respondents, including university faculty members, urban managers, and experts familiar with the research subject in Bushehr City. The participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a five-point Likert scale ranging from “very low” to “very high,” with scores assigned from 1 to 5, respectively. Data analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which is a subset of SEM. The analyses were performed using LISREL software to examine the relationships between good urban governance indicators and urban livability and to assess the validity of the measurement model
 
Results and discussion
The data analysis reveals that transparency, with a standardized coefficient of 0.90, exerts the strongest influence on urban livability in Bushehr City. This finding highlights the critical role of transparent urban governance in building public trust, ensuring clear and continuous information dissemination, and facilitating open access to information. Transparency enhances citizens’ confidence in urban management institutions and strengthens active public participation in decision-making processes as well as oversight of policy implementation. Responsibility, with a standardized coefficient of 0.89, ranks as the second most influential indicator, underscoring the importance of institutional and managerial commitment to assigned duties and responsiveness to citizens’ needs. Responsible urban governance promotes accountability, improves the quality of public services, and contributes to more effective and citizen-oriented urban management. Equity, with a standardized coefficient of 0.82, also demonstrates a significant effect on urban livability. This indicator emphasizes the provision of equal opportunities, gender equity, fair access to urban services, and the balanced distribution of land uses. The strong influence of equity reflects its direct contribution to enhancing citizen satisfaction and overall quality of life, particularly in cities facing socio-economic disparities.
Other governance indicators—including accountability (0.69), efficiency and effectiveness (0.67), participation (0.63), rule of law (0.60), and consensus orientation (0.58)—play complementary roles in promoting urban livability. Although their individual effects are relatively lower, their collective influence indicates that sustainable urban development requires a balanced integration of transparency, equity, efficiency, and active citizen participation. These findings suggest that urban livability cannot be achieved through isolated governance mechanisms but rather through a holistic and coordinated governance framework that aligns institutional performance with community engagement and social justice principles.
 
Conclusion
The aim of this study was to examine the role of good urban governance indicators in enhancing the livability of Bushehr City. Given the multiple economic, social, environmental, and institutional challenges facing contemporary cities—including poverty, unemployment, inefficiencies in urban services, the expansion of deteriorated urban fabrics, and the proliferation of social problems—the adoption of a good urban governance framework emerges as a comprehensive and effective approach for improving quality of life and strengthening urban management capacity. The findings indicate that transparency, responsibility, and equity exert the strongest influence on urban livability, while other indicators—such as accountability, efficiency and effectiveness, participation, rule of law, and consensus orientation—play complementary roles. Transparency enhances public trust by ensuring continuous information flow and open access to data, thereby fostering active citizen participation in decision-making processes and oversight of urban policies and programs. Responsibility among urban institutions and managers serves as a cornerstone for accountability and the improvement of service quality. Furthermore, urban equity contributes to improved quality of life by promoting equal opportunities, fair distribution of resources, and equitable access to urban services and facilities. Overall, the results underscore that improving urban livability in Bushehr requires a shift away from traditional, centralized management approaches toward inclusive, transparent, and participatory governance structures. Strengthening good urban governance principles can facilitate more effective policymaking, enhance institutional performance, and ultimately contribute to the creation of a more livable and sustainable urban environment.
 
Funding
There is no funding support.
 
Authors' Contribution
The authors contributed equally to the conceptualization and writing of the article. All of the authors approved the content of the manuscript and agreed on all aspects of the work declaration of competing interest none.
 
Conflict of Interest
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
 
Acknowledgments
 We are grateful to all the scientific consultants of this paper.