IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/qualqt/v57y2023i6d10.1007_s11135-022-01607-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Measuring the spatial concentration of population: a new approach based on the graphical representation of the Gini index

Author

Listed:
  • Massimo Mucciardi

    (University of Messina)

  • Federico Benassi

    (University of Naples Federico II)

Abstract

The spatial concentration of population is a key dimension for demography and population studies. Often it is not easy to properly measure this dimension because of its double nature (statistical and geographical process). The article proposes a new way of measuring the spatial concentration of the population based on the graphical representation of the Gini index. A spatial version of the classic Gini index of concentration (G) is therefore proposed according to the Lorenz curve notion. This version, called the Spatial Gini Index (SGI), essentially compiles in one index the two dimensions of territorial concentration: the statistical one, based on the concept of variability, and the geographical one, based on the concept of polarization (i.e., spatial autocorrelation). The proposed index is then applied to the spatial distribution of Italian and foreign residents in Italy in 2002, 2010, and 2018. The analysis is carried out at the provincial level. Results are compared to the classic Gini index, revealing important differences, especially referring to the foreign population that in this period intensively grew and presented a strong spatial bias in its territorial distribution. This underlines the importance of grasping the spatial dimension of the territorial concentration of human population. Future challenges for deploying this index are described.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Mucciardi & Federico Benassi, 2023. "Measuring the spatial concentration of population: a new approach based on the graphical representation of the Gini index," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(6), pages 5193-5211, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:57:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s11135-022-01607-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-022-01607-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11135-022-01607-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11135-022-01607-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:57:y:2023:i:6:d:10.1007_s11135-022-01607-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.