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Density Zoning and Class Segregation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas

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  • Jonathan T. Rothwell
  • Douglas S. Massey

Abstract

Objectives. Socioeconomic segregation rose substantially in U.S. cities during the final decades of the 20th century, and we argue that zoning regulations are an important cause of this increase. Methods. We measure neighborhood economic segregation using the Gini coefficient for neighborhood income inequality and the poor‐affluent exposure index. These outcomes are regressed on an index of density zoning developed from the work of Pendall for 50 U.S. metropolitan areas, while controlling for other metropolitan characteristics likely to affect urban housing markets and class segregation. Results. For both 2000 and changes from 1990 to 2000, OLS estimates reveal a strong relationship between density zoning and income segregation, and replication using 2SLS suggests that the relationship is causal. We also show that zoning is associated with higher interjurisdictional inequality. Conclusions. Metropolitan areas with suburbs that restrict the density of residential construction are more segregated on the basis of income than those with more permissive density zoning regimes. This arrangement perpetuates and exacerbates racial and class inequality in the United States.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan T. Rothwell & Douglas S. Massey, 2010. "Density Zoning and Class Segregation in U.S. Metropolitan Areas," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1123-1143, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:socsci:v:91:y:2010:i:5:p:1123-1143
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-6237.2010.00724.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Ahlfeldt, Gabriel M. & Pietrostefani, Elisabetta, 2019. "The economic effects of density: A synthesis," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 93-107.
    2. Xi Yang, 2021. "Land-Use Regulations and Urban Growth of African Americans," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 35(4), pages 338-350, November.
    3. Maeve E. Wallace & Carmen Green & Lisa Richardson & Katherine Theall & Joia Crear-Perry, 2017. "“Look at the Whole Me”: A Mixed-Methods Examination of Black Infant Mortality in the US through Women’s Lived Experiences and Community Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Matthew Mleczko & Matthew Desmond, 2023. "Using natural language processing to construct a National Zoning and Land Use Database," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(13), pages 2564-2584, October.
    5. Jamie Bologna Pavlik & Yang Zhou, 2023. "Are historic districts a backdoor for segregation? Yes and no," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(3), pages 415-434, July.
    6. Katherine King, 2013. "Jane Jacobs and ‘The Need for Aged Buildings’: Neighbourhood Historical Development Pace and Community Social Relations," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(12), pages 2407-2424, September.
    7. Swope, Carolyn B. & Hernández, Diana, 2019. "Housing as a determinant of health equity: A conceptual model," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    8. Whittemore, Andrew H. & BenDor, Todd K., 2019. "Opposition to housing development in a suburban US County: Characteristics, origins, and consequences," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Songyang Lyu & Sungik Kang & Ja-Hoon Koo, 2022. "Social Capital Inequality According to Hukou in Unequal Economic Environments in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-14, October.
    10. Ann Owens, 2015. "Assisted Housing and Income Segregation among Neighborhoods in U.S. Metropolitan Areas," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 660(1), pages 98-116, July.

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