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A Method for Studying Differences in Segregation Across Time and Space

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  • Benjamin Elbers

Abstract

An important topic in the study of segregation are comparisons across space and time. This article extends current approaches in segregation measurement by presenting a five-term decomposition procedure that can be used to understand more clearly why segregation has changed or differs between two comparison points. Two of the five terms account for differences in segregation that are due to the differing marginal distributions (e.g., the gender and occupational distributions), while one term accounts for differences in segregation due the different structure of segregation (what might be termed “pure†segregation). The decomposition thus presents a solution to the problem of margin dependency, frequently discussed in the segregation literature. Finally, two terms account for the appearance or disappearance of units when analyzing change over time. The method can be further extended to attribute structural changes to individual units, which makes it possible, for instance, to quantify the effect of each occupation on changing gender * segregation. The practical advantages of the decomposition are illustrated by two examples: a study of changing occupational gender segregation in the United States and a study of changing residential segregation in Brooklyn, New York.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Elbers, 2023. "A Method for Studying Differences in Segregation Across Time and Space," Sociological Methods & Research, , vol. 52(1), pages 5-42, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:somere:v:52:y:2023:i:1:p:5-42
    DOI: 10.1177/0049124121986204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ricardo Mora & Javier Ruiz-Castillo, 2009. "The invariance properties of the mutual information index of multigroup segregation," Research on Economic Inequality, in: Occupational and Residential Segregation, pages 33-53, Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
    2. Ricardo Mora & Javier Ruiz-Castillo, 2003. "Additively Decomposable Segregation Indexes. The Case of Gender Segregation by Occupations and Human Capital Levels in Spain," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 1(2), pages 147-179, August.
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    1. RÅ«ta UbareviÄ ienÄ— & Tiit Tammaru & Maarten van Ham & Leandro Basílio Junior & MÄ ris BÄ“rziņš & Kevin Credit & Diogo Gaspar Silva & Richard Harris & Kadi Kalm & Timo Kauppinen & Zaiga KriÅ¡jÄ ne, 2026. "A comparative study of socio-economic segregation in European capital city-regions: From segregation to desegregation?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 63(4), pages 779-803, March.
    2. Matthias Weigand & Cathrin Mohr & Davide Cantoni, 2025. "Identity and Institutional Change: Evidence from First Names in Germany, 1700–1850," CESifo Working Paper Series 12155, CESifo.
    3. Olga Alonso-Villar & Coral Del Río, 2025. "From the Extent of Segregation to its Consequences in Terms of Wellbeing," Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, IEF, vol. 254(3), pages 5-43, September.
    4. Pablo Santiago Serrati, 2024. "School and residential segregation in the reproduction of urban segregation: A case study in Buenos Aires," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 61(2), pages 313-330, February.
    5. Fernando Calderón-Figueroa, 2024. "Residential Micro-Segregation and Social Capital in Lima, Peru," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Robert Musil & Jiannis Kaucic, 2024. "Housing Market Segmentation as a Driver of Urban Micro-Segregation? An In-Depth Analysis of Two Viennese Districts," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Ana Kujundzic & Janneke Pieters, 2025. "Consistent Segregation Metrics: Addressing Structural Variations in Global Labor Markets," Papers 2503.02763, arXiv.org.

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