Spatial assessment of accessibility to public services in Iraqi governorates using topsis model

Author: 
Nashwan Shukri Abdullah and Soleiman Foroughi

The presence of public services in adequate level is a crucial factor to achieve economic welfare and social development. Based on this view, TOPSIS model was used in this paper to rank the governorates of Iraq in terms of spatial distribution of public services and changes within 2007-2012 have been evaluated. Methodology of this research is descriptive, comparative, analytical and questionnaires method. Data used in this research are taken from statistical book published under the title of IHSES. The criteria used are the percentage of people whose housing unit is located 500 and 1000 meter distant from nearest services. These services include 1- primary school, 2- secondary school, 3- public hospital, 4- private hospital, 5- health center, 6- pharmacy, 7- police station, 8- post office, 9- place of worship, 10- youth center, 11- bank, 12- fire station, 13- municipality council, 14- bus station, and 15- market. Results showed that a significant change has occurred in the rank of governorate from 2007 to 2012. Bagdad (Ci: 0.650), Duhok (0.616), and Erbil (0.581) are in the best conditions and Babil (0.044) is in the worst conditions in terms of access to public services in 2012.

Paper No: 
1370