Experts agree that Iran’s path out of its current economic situation will have to include a growing focus on private sector activity as a source of employment and economic growth. While private sector players face a host of challenges due to outdated regulation as well as the dominance of governmental and semi-state companies in the economy, they also face an unlikely challenge from society at large.
A recent poll by a televised economic program (“Payesh”) asked: “How have Iran’s wealthy individuals become rich?” While 83% responded, “Through rents and connections,” 12% believed that the wealthy had achieved their success through their own hard work and 5% considered “luck” to be the main reason.
