Searching for new ways to achieve mixed neighbourhoods

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between housing mix and population mix, which is often assumed to exist in social mix policies. As urban form has been suggested as an alternative factor related to population mix, this feature is also considered. In Sweden, one of the main ways to achieve population mix is through housing mix by the densification of already established neighbourhoods. Thus, a salt-and-pepper-like housing mix policy has emerged, which has been adopted to various extents by the (in this respect, rather autonomous) municipalities. Accordingly, in the present study, the grades of mixes are calculated at a detailed geographical level using an entropy index, and then aggregated to the 124 urban (≥10,000 inhabitants) localities in Sweden. However, correlations between the urban localities' grades of housing/tenure mixes and population mixes cannot be found. Yet, significant correlations can be established between urban form and urban localities' various population mixes. Therefore, it is argued that urban form deserves more attention in future studies of population mix. Future research on both population mix and its extension, mix policies, may benefit from more consideration of urban contexts.