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Space, race, and poverty: Spatial inequalities in walkable neighborhood amenities?

Author

Listed:
  • Dustin T. Duncan

    (Harvard University)

  • Jared Aldstadt

    (State University of New York at Buffalo)

  • John Whalen

    (State University of New York at Buffalo)

  • Kellee White

    (University of South Carolina)

  • Márcia C. Castro

    (Harvard University)

  • David R. Williams

    (Harvard University)

Abstract

Background: Multiple and varied benefits have been suggested for increased neighborhood walkability. However, spatial inequalities in neighborhood walkability likely exist and may be attributable, in part, to residential segregation. Objective: Utilizing a spatial demographic perspective, we evaluated potential spatial inequalities in walkable neighborhood amenities across census tracts in Boston, MA (US). Methods: The independent variables included minority racial/ethnic population percentages and percent of families in poverty. Walkable neighborhood amenities were assessed with a composite measure. Spatial autocorrelation in key study variables were first calculated with the Global Moran's I statistic. Then, Spearman correlations between neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics and walkable neighborhood amenities were calculated as well as Spearman correlations accounting for spatial autocorrelation. We fit ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and spatial autoregressive models when appropriate as a final step. Results: Significant positive spatial autocorrelation was found in neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics (e.g. census tract percent Black), but not walkable neighborhood amenities or in the OLS regression residuals. Spearman correlations between neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics and walkable neighborhood amenities were not statistically significant, nor were neighborhood socio-demographic characteristics significantly associated with walkable neighborhood amenities in OLS regression models. Conclusions: Our results suggest that there is residential segregation in Boston and that spatial inequalities do not necessarily show up using a composite measure. Comments: Future research in other geographic areas (including international contexts) and using different definitions of neighborhoods (including small-area definitions) should evaluate if spatial inequalities are found using composite measures, but also should use measures of specific neighborhood amenities.

Suggested Citation

  • Dustin T. Duncan & Jared Aldstadt & John Whalen & Kellee White & Márcia C. Castro & David R. Williams, 2012. "Space, race, and poverty: Spatial inequalities in walkable neighborhood amenities?," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 26(17), pages 409-448.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:26:y:2012:i:17
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2012.26.17
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    2. Piccolo, Rebecca S. & Duncan, Dustin T. & Pearce, Neil & McKinlay, John B., 2015. "The role of neighborhood characteristics in racial/ethnic disparities in type 2 diabetes: Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 79-90.
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    6. Yang, Tse-Chuan & Shoff, Carla & Noah, Aggie J. & Black, Nyesha & Sparks, Corey S., 2014. "Racial segregation and maternal smoking during pregnancy: A multilevel analysis using the racial segregation interaction index," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 26-36.
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    8. M. Bielik & R. König & S. Schneider & T. Varoudis, 2018. "Measuring the Impact of Street Network Configuration on the Accessibility to People and Walking Attractors," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 657-676, September.
    9. Bradley Bereitschaft, 2023. "The changing ethno-racial profile of ‘very walkable’ urban neighbourhoods in the US (2010–2020): Are minorities under-represented?," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(4), pages 638-654, March.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    spatial demography; racial/socioeconomic segregation; neighborhood amenities/built environment; neighborhood racial composition; neighborhood poverty; United States of America;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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