evaluating development and economic plans in west mazandaran province

there are different methodes for performance evaluation of economic development plans and ranking them in comparison with each other. these methods are founded on both quantitative and qualitative approaches. however, real world events are based upon uncertainty and since quantitative methods, unlike their names, are not accurate enough, they do not seem to be efficient in qualitative decision-making area and qualitative methods can act better. due to this fact and since qualitative methods aim to use the knowledge and comments of a broad range of experts in the process of decision making, they can improve the validity of scientific findings of researchers and increase the reliability of managers and policy makers decisions. this article presents the results of a study that assesses and analyses the performance of economic development plans with a systemic approach by using the content analysis method and by relying on “an original mathematical model”. in the rest, it tries to rank and grade the plans by yager ranking method. the results of this research show that the economic development plans implemented in the region, instead of being beneficial, often have led the regional and local development to unsustainablity. in the end, the study suggests policies for guiding the region towards a more desirable situation (from the aspect of development sustainablity). jel classification: r58