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Socioeconomic variations and disparity in space–time accessibility in suburban China: A case study of Guangzhou

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  • Zifeng Chen
  • Anthony Gar-On Yeh

Abstract

The concept of conventional place-based accessibility, despite being well researched, tends to ignore people’s space–time constraints arising from mandatory activities (e.g. work and household duties), which confine people’s potential movement and delimit the accessible opportunities. As people with different socioeconomic statuses may have different space–time constraints even while living in similar locations, using the place-based measures could lead to an underestimation of accessibility inequality. This study applies a space–time measure to unravel the disparities in service accessibility in suburban China. Since the late 1970s, suburbanisation in Chinese cities has fostered income inequality and has elevated other dimensions (e.g. institutional status and gender) of disparity within each income class. Within this context, we conduct a case study of suburban neighbourhoods in Guangzhou, based on the activity diary data derived from a home-based questionnaire survey. Findings indicate that the use of a space–time measure effectively captures the disparities in service accessibility among residents in suburban Guangzhou. On the basis of structural equation modelling, we further identify that certain socioeconomic groups (e.g. high-income residents, public sector workers, local hukou holders, male household heads and welfare housing residents) tend to experience fewer space–time constraints from rigid activities, such as work, commuting and household duties, and are thus more advantaged in accessing service facilities. These findings imply that urban planning should address the space–time perspective to promote equal service access for the highly heterogeneous social groups in suburban China and to incorporate time-sensitive policies (e.g. flexitime policies).

Suggested Citation

  • Zifeng Chen & Anthony Gar-On Yeh, 2021. "Socioeconomic variations and disparity in space–time accessibility in suburban China: A case study of Guangzhou," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(4), pages 750-768, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:58:y:2021:i:4:p:750-768
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098020916416
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Shen, Yue & Luo, Xueyao, 2023. "Linking spatial and temporal contexts to multi-contextual segregation by hukou status in urban China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

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