Analyzing Effective Factors in Establishing Informal Settlements in Babol City using Pathway Analysis (PA) Model

Abstract. Slumming (marginalization) and informal accommodation in present term is the outcome of industrial revolution emerged following structural changes, and abundant social and economic problems including increased urbanization, uncontrolled immigrations in different countries around the world, especially third world cities. Iran not excluded by this phenomenon also experienced urban growth due to increased urbanization. Babol city is of historical and intermediate cities turned into an immigration pole in Mazandaran province as its high economic potential. Increased population resulting from natural growth and immigration caused physical and uncontrolled growing so that urbanization outperforms urban planning, which manifested in developing informal, peripheral settlements. This research focuses on explaining social and economic factors of forming informal settlements in Babol. Research methodology was descriptive-analytical and data collection tools included filed observation, researcher field studies, as well as documents and household inventory. Factors ’ effects were analyzed using pathway analysis method. Research findings show that there are ten most important factors influence forming informal settlement in Babol. Research results reveal that the two classes of social and economic factors similarly influence forming informal habitat