Understanding Residential Polarization in a Globalizing City

Ibrahim Rotimi Aliu,Olayinka A Ajala

doi:10.1177/2158244013514061

Ibrahim Rotimi Aliu, Olayinka A Ajala

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244013514061

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Journal: SAGE Open	Publication Date: Jan 1, 2013
Citations: 9	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Obafemi Awolowo University, Lagos State University

Abstract

This study examines the spatial polarization that characterizes the dwellings in the African leading megacity of Lagos. Data were collected through an extensive housing survey carried out on 1,485 household residences in 56 wards within 12 administrative units in Lagos megacity. The spatial dimension of residential density in the city generates three unique residential patterns which are low residential density (LRD), medium residential density (MRD), and high residential density (HRD) areas. Descriptive and multivariate inferential statistics were used to render explanations for the spatial variations in the residential quality variables in the study area. Findings indicated that a clear difference exists in the residential quality within the three residential density areas of Lagos. High correlations exist among the residential quality indicators and housing type. The principal component analysis shows that residential polarizations that occur in the LRD, MRD, and HRD are based on the location, dwelling facility, interior and exterior quality, neighborhood integrity, social bond, barrier to entry, and security. The practical implications of residential polarizations along the residential density areas are explicitly expressed.

Highlights

Urban scholars’ analyses of residential polarization have generally followed two diametrical paths: those that focus on revealing the residential pattern based on dwelling and neighborhood quality and those that strive to provide explanations for such pattern (Abumere, 1994; Harvey, 1975; Hwang & Quigley, 2004; Kain & Quigley, 1970)
While the sociologists attempt to view residential differentiation as resulting from the tendency for racial segregation (Krivo, 1986), the economists tend to look at residential differentiation as an outcome of choice behaviors resulting from the tendency to maximize utility (Cirman, 2006; Quigley, 1985)
Residential quality features are broadly explained in two ways, namely, neighborhood and structural features

Summary

Introduction

Urban scholars’ analyses of residential polarization have generally followed two diametrical paths: those that focus on revealing the residential pattern based on dwelling and neighborhood quality and those that strive to provide explanations for such pattern (Abumere, 1994; Harvey, 1975; Hwang & Quigley, 2004; Kain & Quigley, 1970). Urban polarization is a common research problem to all social scientists geographers are keener about spatial polarization of human activities including housing than other social scientists. While the sociologists attempt to view residential differentiation as resulting from the tendency for racial segregation (Krivo, 1986), the economists tend to look at residential differentiation as an outcome of choice behaviors resulting from the tendency to maximize utility (Cirman, 2006; Quigley, 1985). Sociological and economic explanations of residential differentiation are fraught with serious problems (Harvey, 1975). Sociological explanation does not provide insight beyond emphasizing the rather simplistic notion that people of the same racial provenance live closely together, and second, the neo-classical economic theory of utility maximization which emphasizes differentiation based on consumer behavior does not explain the spatial pattern of human activities sufficiently

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