Compliance with COVID-19 Regulations in Cities vs. Suburbs: The Role of Communities’ Forms of Capital in Communities’ Health Sustainability

Urban areas are regarded as a sustainable form of settlement, while the planned and built environments of cities are considered essential for the development of healthier communities. Nonetheless, urban sprawl has caused disparities in the health of those living in cities vs. suburbs. One explanation for this disparity is the willingness of residents to comply with the recommendations and instructions of health care experts or public directives. Compliance is an essential part of what makes communities resilient. However, we know little about the factors that influence this compliance. To fill this gap, we examined data from Israeli municipalities in cities and suburbs about compliance with the government’s COVID-19 regulations. We investigated whether social and physical aspects of cities and suburbs explain differences in compliance. We researched how the residents’ economic, social, and cultural capital, as well as their spatial distribution, influenced their compliance during the pandemic. The results demonstrate the important role of the spatial distribution of these various forms of capital in the residents’ compliance. Specifically, those living in suburban areas benefited from their capital accumulation, making them more inclined to adhere to the health regulations. This new perspective on the dynamics between cities and suburbs may strengthen community resilience and help mitigate regional disparities.