Abstract
AbstractThe 2001 Output Area Classification (2001 OAC) is an open source geodemographic classification of the UK built exclusively from 2001 UK Census data. There has been considerable user interest in its applicability to subsequent time periods, particularly given the potential propensity of characteristics and attributes in some areas to change during inter‐censual periods. Users often purchase commercial geodemographic classification products in the belief that purely census‐based classifications such as the 2001 OAC are uniformly unreliable because there is no temporal updating of input data. Yet there is evidence to suggest that whilst some UK neighborhoods are prone to sudden changes, many others change very little over protracted time periods. Using measures that are available at the small area level, temporal uncertainty indicators can be constructed to identify those areas that are less stable. Using mid‐year population estimates and dwelling stock data, this article develops three temporal uncertainty indicators. These provide a reliable means of gauging the stability or otherwise of neighborhood conditions. The conclusion from this is that while a large number of small areas in the UK do experience change over time, this change is not uniform in either degree or distribution, or by geodemographic type.
Highlights
Geodemographic classifications are small area measures that provide summary indicators of the social, economic and demographic characteristics of neighborhoods (Adnan et al 2010)
In the majority of locations, we argue that the 2001 OAC remains of use, avoiding the need for costly and time-consuming updating through ancillary sources that may be of unknown provenance
In other cases there may be no such link – for example, existing housing stock may become occupied at higher residential densities by incomers, or redevelopment may not lead to changes in residential density. In each of these cases, we suggest that changes in either or both of these indicators is likely to lead to differences in the demographic characteristics of Output Area (OA), along with changes in the numbers of individuals likely to bear these characteristics
Summary
Geodemographic classifications are small area measures that provide summary indicators of the social, economic and demographic characteristics of neighborhoods (Adnan et al 2010). While initially devised for use in the public sector, successful geodemographic applications developed most rapidly in the private sector, using proprietary solutions such as CACI’s (London, UK) Acorn and Experian’s (Nottingham, UK) Mosaic Despite their cost, commercial products such as these dominate the UK market and are widely utilized across multiple industries, in significant part because ancillary sources are used to enrich and update the classifications – many users equate “frequently updated” with “best”, despite the fact that the provenance of some of the ancillary sources is unknown (see CACI 2009, Experian 2010). An alternative to commercial classifications is the 2001 Output Area Classification (2001 OAC), created for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) by Vickers and Rees (2007) This classification is freely available in the public domain and is the outcome of a well-documented and replicable methodology. Users state that they would like annual updates to a new OAC (ONS 2012a)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
