The Function and Role of the State in Fulfilling Citizens’ Economic Rights in the Legal Systems of Iran and the United States

This study is fundamental in nature and aims to demonstrate the role and position of the state in fulfilling the economic rights of citizens from the perspectives of the legal systems of Iran and the United States. This paper employs a descriptive-analytical method and an analytical approach to examine the role and status of the state in Iran and the United States with regard to citizens' economic rights. The findings indicate that the liberal tradition and privatization, framed within the concept of a minimal or limited government in the United States, have characterized the role of the state primarily as a regulator. However, within the framework of the welfare state, the state's role becomes more pronounced and is implemented more according to societal needs rather than constitutional principles. In contrast, in Iran, due to adherence to constitutional principles, the state plays a significant and influential role in citizens' economic rights, which imposes complex and extensive responsibilities on the state to fulfill these rights. Certain articles of the Iranian Constitution, including Article 29, assign most economic rights to the state. Due to the weakness of the non-governmental sector, the realization of economic rights has become more difficult.