A Local Indicator of Multivariate Spatial Association: Extending Geary's c

Abstract

This paper extends the application of the Local Geary c statistic to a multivariate context. The statistic is conceptualized as a weighted distance in multivariate attribute space between an observation and its geographical neighbors. Inference is based on a conditional permutation approach. The interpretation of significant univariate Local Geary statistics is clarified and the differences with a multivariate case outlined. An empirical illustration uses Guerry's classic data on moral statistics in 1830s France.