Residential differentiation characteristics based on “socio-spatial” coupling: A case study of Zhengzhou

Abstract

Residential differentiation transcends its physical aspect, necessitating attention to deeper issues such as group-based disparities underlying spatial configurations. This paper based on multiple data sources, utilizes indicator dimensionality reduction, spatial clustering, and indices of dissimilarity to conducts clustering and matching analysis of social groups and residential spaces. It summarizes and distills the social-spatial coupling types of residential differentiation in Zhengzhou city under a layered model, focusing on social spatial polarization and solidification phenomena in China, and proposing optimization and control recommendations. Findings include: (1) Residential space differences primarily manifest in pricing, while social group distinctions focus on consumption capacity and age. Residential differentiation is a process of continuous differentiation and interaction between two dimensions; (2) Urban housing types do not strictly align with socio-economic attributes, with six typical coupling types observed within the “inner city - new city - outskirts” framework; (3) The “filtering” effect of high housing prices in Zhengzhou leads to wealthy clustering in new city outskirts, while low-income groups aggregate in peripheral and declining inner-city areas, resulting in pronounced spatial segregation; (4) Urban residential differentiation reflects the interaction between macro-controls in the housing market and individual residential choices, serving as a spatial representation of social stratification outcomes.