Leaving poor neighbourhoods: the role of income and housing tenure

Abstract

To date, few studies have adopted a particular focus on the role of housing tenure when analysing ethnic and socioeconomic differences in out-mobility from poor neighbourhoods. This study contributes to filling this gap. The paper uses a full population data set covering every individual in the capital region of Sweden during the period 2006–2008. The findings indicate that the likelihood of leaving poor neighbourhoods increase for the foreign background population if their income is higher and they own their housing unit, while native Swedes seem to be less constrained by income. This lends support to the theoretical framework of place stratification. The results warrant efforts to broaden residential mix policy beyond the discussion on housing tenure if policy-makers want to counteract the ethnic and socioeconomic imbalances of residential mobility reproducing segregation.