SOCIAL SEGREGATION IN ATHENS

Abstract

This paper deals with changes in the Athenian social structure, mainly in its geographical organization, between 1971 and 1981. These changes are identified by clustering all communities in the Athens region on the basis of socio‐professional location quotients and then examining socio‐professional ratio changes in the resulting clusters. A process of social segregation is found to be well under way although, during the same period, the Athenian social structure tended to depolarize (middle class increase). Explanatory hypotheses are formulated on the basis of industrial stagnation, tertiarization, public sector employment, housing and urban practices and policies as well as urban congestion and air pollution. Finally, a link is attempted with more recent developments and tendencies.