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Inequality Versus Inclusion in US Cities

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  • Christina Stacy

    (Urban Institute)

  • Brady Meixell

    (Urban Institute)

  • Tanaya Srini

    (Urban Institute)

Abstract

Income inequality is a suboptimal measure of inclusion at the city level. A low level of inequality can reflect the exclusion or displacement of low income residents, or it can reflect a lack of opportunity overall. Using data for 274 U.S. cities for the years 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2010, we create more complete measures of both economic and racial inclusion. We then compare these inclusion measures with the Gini coefficient using a within estimator for cities over time. Results indicate that inequality and inclusion are not highly correlated and often trend in opposite directions. Most concerning is that reductions in income inequality are associated with reductions in the percent and number of residents of color within a city, suggesting that changes in income inequality capture the displacement of residents rather than true improvements to quality of life.

Suggested Citation

  • Christina Stacy & Brady Meixell & Tanaya Srini, 2019. "Inequality Versus Inclusion in US Cities," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 145(1), pages 117-156, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:145:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s11205-019-02090-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-019-02090-3
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    Inequality; Inclusion; City; Race;
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