Neighborhood racial composition, income, and distance to grocery retailers in Seattle

Jill J Mccluskey,Brandon O Ware,Modhurima Dey Amin,Eric L Jessup

doi:10.1017/age.2021.23

Jill J Mccluskey, Brandon O Ware + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1017/age.2021.23

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Abstract

AbstractThis article examines whether racial disparities exist in travel distances and travel times to grocery stores in Seattle, WA. In contrast to the findings of studies conducted in other metropolitan cities, Seattle, WA, has few food deserts. We find that disparities in travel distance and travel time to supermarkets vary with the percentage of specific racial and ethnic populations. Greater Asian populations in a census tract are associated with shorter travel distance to the grocery, low income, and low vehicle access. For the Hispanic population, a greater percentage in a census tract increases the predicted travel distances and travel times to grocery stores. Greater income in tracts with more Hispanic population is associated with a shorter distance, and those tracts with more Asian population are associated with a longer distance, possibly due to cultural differences in diet.

Highlights

Inner-city neighborhoods are often disadvantaged because of high levels of poverty and the lack of resources, income, and healthful food opportunities
Our results suggest that distance to the nearest grocery retailer may vary across minorities as well, and Hispanic populations face a greater distance to the nearest grocery store more than other minority groups in metropolitan Seattle, WA
With more than 50 percent of the U.S population living in urban areas, it is often challenging for grocery retailers to reach their customers

Summary

Introduction

Inner-city neighborhoods are often disadvantaged because of high levels of poverty and the lack of resources, income, and healthful food opportunities. Jiao et al (2012) find that health risks and resources are spatially and socially structured, as well as economically disproportionate to those in disadvantaged neighborhoods. They associate the diet-related health of individuals with the socioeconomic status of their neighborhoods. Since consumers are often aware of the difference between healthful and unhealthful foods and would prefer healthful foods if both prices were the same

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