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The Geography of Economic Segregation

Author

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  • Richard Florida

    (Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, 105 St. George Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3E6, Canada)

  • Charlotta Mellander

    (Faculty of Economics, Jönköping International Business School, Box 1026, 551 11 Jönköping, Sweden)

Abstract

This study examines the key factors that are associated with the geography of economic segregation across US metros. It connects the sociological literature on the extent and variation of economic segregation to the urban economics literature on the factors associated with urban and regional performance. It advances the hypothesis that economic segregation will be greater in larger, denser, more knowledge-based regions as well as in light of racial factors and income inequality. It utilizes measures of Income, Educational, and Occupational Segregation along with a combined measure of Overall Economic Segregation. Our findings are in line with the hypothesis and indicate that economic segregation is associated with larger, denser, more highly educated metros. Economic segregation is also to a certain extent related with race and ethnicity, commuting style, and income inequality.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard Florida & Charlotta Mellander, 2018. "The Geography of Economic Segregation," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:7:y:2018:i:8:p:123-:d:160237
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    economic segregation; regional performance; population; size; density; knowledge economies; inequality; race; ethnicity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population

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