Spatial Inequalities Research Articles

Inequalities in Primary Care Provision in Gwangju Metropolitan City, South Korea

Abstract Background Primary care clinics play a crucial role in community health promotion by facilitating early disease detection and management. The number of these clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City increased from 931 in 2000 to 2,400 in 2022, but this growth was not evenly distributed within the city. This study aims to examine the spatial inequalities in the distribution of clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City. Methods This study utilized local administrative licensing data on medical institutions classified as clinics. To estimate healthcare resource imbalances, Lorenz curves and Gini indices for the number of clinics per 100,000 individuals and per square kilometer were calculated by district. Results The number of primary care clinics per 1,000 individuals or per square kilometer was highest in Dong-gu and Seo-gu, while Gwangsan-gu had relatively fewer facilities. In particular, Buk-gu, Seo-gu, and Nam-gu had more than 40% of areas with a high number of healthcare facilities relative to population or area, whereas less than 50% of Gwangsan-gu fell into the lower tier in these categories. The Gini index, used to measure the geographical inequality of healthcare facility distribution, showed a slight improvement from 2000 to 2023. However, Seo-gu and Buk-gu exhibited different trends compared to other districts. Conclusions Geographical disparities in the distribution of primary care clinics in Gwangju Metropolitan City have slightly improved since 2000, but show different patterns by district. Addressing healthcare imbalances is essential for enhancing health equity, requiring multifaceted efforts to mitigate disparities and improve medical service accessibility in underserved areas. Key messages • Significant disparities exist in the distribution of primary care clinics across Gwangju, with higher densities in Dong-gu and Seo-gu, and fewer facilities in Gwangsan-gu. • The Gini index for clinic distribution has improved since 2000, but disparities remain, particularly in Seo-gu and Buk-gu. Continued efforts are essential to reduce healthcare inequalities further.

Architectural styles of curiosity in global Wikipedia mobile app readership.

Intrinsically motivated information seeking is an expression of curiosity believed to be central to human nature. However, most curiosity research relies on small, Western convenience samples. Here, we analyze a naturalistic population of 482,760 readers using Wikipedia's mobile app in 14 languages from 50 countries or territories. By measuring the structure of knowledge networks constructed by readers weaving a thread through articles in Wikipedia, we replicate two styles of curiosity previously identified in laboratory studies: the nomadic "busybody" and the targeted "hunter." Further, we find evidence for another style-the "dancer"-which was previously predicted by a historico-philosophical examination of texts over two millennia and is characterized by creative modes of knowledge production. We identify associations, globally, between the structure of knowledge networks and population-level indicators of spatial navigation, education, mood, well-being, and inequality. These results advance our understanding of Wikipedia's global readership and demonstrate how cultural and geographical properties of the digital environment relate to different styles of curiosity.

Pedestrian Accessibility Analysis of Sidewalk-Specific Networks: Insights from Three Latin American Central Squares

Limited research from the Global South has examined pedestrian accessibility to key destinations, particularly while considering efficient and practical sidewalk-specific conditions. This study employs a case-based approach, scrutinising walking access to three central squares, Mexico City’s Zocalo, Lima’s Plaza San Martin, and Buenos Aires’ Plaza de la República, within a 10-min walking radius. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Google Street View (GSV) were leveraged to conduct a virtual street audit, assessing six microscale features influencing the walking experience (kerb ramps, pavement continuity, sidewalk width, well-maintained sidewalks, active uses, and green spaces). These data facilitated the construction of a genuine pedestrian network and allowed the assessment of three-tiered pedestrian accessibility models that comprised easy access, comfortable routes, and vibrant walks. The findings reveal significant spatial inequities in pedestrian access. About 10% of buildings near Mexico City’s and Lima’s central squares lack pedestrian accessibility due to inadequate and interrupted sidewalk and crosswalk infrastructure, disproportionately impacting those with mobility limitations. Conversely, Buenos Aires exhibits better pedestrian facilities, with accessible, comfortable, and lively routes reaching approximately 20% of buildings surrounding the Plaza de la República. These results underscore the significant disparities in street infrastructure and networks within these historic neighbourhoods, emphasising the imperative for more inclusive, pedestrian-friendly urban planning in Latin American cities.

Multidimensional spatial inequality in China and its relationship with economic growth

Spatial inequality erodes social cohesion and political stability, impacting global sustainable development and human well-being. This study examines spatial inequality in China across economic, social, environmental, infrastructural, and innovation dimensions, exploring how these inequalities evolve with economic development. Drawing on the Sustainable Development Goals and Chinese planning goals, we selected 13 indicators pertinent to human well-being. We employed the population-weighted coefficient of variation, Gini coefficient, and Moran’s I to assess spatial inequalities and analyzed their relationship with economic growth. The findings reveal that China currently exhibits the highest spatial inequality in innovation and the lowest in the social dimension. Since 1990, most indicators have trended towards decreasing spatial inequality, except for unemployment rates and carbon emissions, which have increased. The economic and innovation gap between the eastern coastal regions and the central and western regions has widened, whereas disparities in housing, healthcare, roads, and digitalization have narrowed. China’s experience demonstrates that Williamson’s inverted U-shaped hypothesis extends beyond the economic domain to encompass education, healthcare, infrastructure, and digitalization, providing policy insights for addressing regional inequalities in China in the post-pandemic era.

Inclusionary planning instruments in two Indonesian cities: a missed opportunity to address urban inequalities

With rising urban inequalities worldwide, inclusionary planning instruments can contribute to more just and inclusive cities and societies by making housing accessible to various social groups. Although these instruments have existed for several decades, their implementation has not always been successful. There is a limited understanding of how these instruments contribute to the public good and the reasons for their failure. By examining the implementation of two inclusionary instruments known as the Balanced Housing Ratio 1:2:3 and the ‘Socialization’ Process used to regulate the construction of new housing by the private sector in Jakarta and Yogyakarta (Indonesia), this article provides evidence to better understand the reasons for their failure and gives entry points for policymakers to be able to design and implement inclusive planning instruments that have stronger impact. The research uses qualitative methods for data collection, including semi-structured interviews as the principal method, complemented by observations, a policy review and a workshop for background and contextual information. This in-depth analysis of the challenges to implement inclusionary instruments related to housing development in Indonesia shows that their failure leads to further social and spatial inequality in cities and a shortcoming of the planning system to contribute to the public good.

Increasing Social and Spatial Inequalities in Parental Co‐Residence

AbstractAcross countries, mounting housing pressures contribute to a growing number of young adults living in the parental home. Patterns at the micro‐level and cross‐nationally are well charted, but less is known about intra‐country differences. Drawing on the case of the Netherlands, we use full‐population register data to examine co‐residence patterns of 25–34‐year‐olds for the 2005–2020 period. Through descriptive, GIS and multivariate analyses, we explain patterns in co‐residence according to income, across space and over time. Results reveal substantial spatial differences in patterns of co‐residence and rates of growth, with the strongest increases in the largest cities and directly adjacent regions. Patterns are most pronounced and intensified for low‐income young adults, who increasingly struggle to realise residential independence in and around economic pull regions and high‐priced urban areas. These findings point to increasing socio‐spatial inequalities in co‐residence, contributing to literature on the interaction between class and space.

Towards inclusive urban real estate: Innovative strategies for shaping urban real estate developments in South Africa

South Africa, like many emerging economies, grapples with the challenges of rapid urbanisation, unequal access to resources, and historical spatial inequalities. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that reimagines urban real estate development as a catalyst for positive social change. This paper explores the imperative of inclusive urban real estate development in South Africa and presents innovative strategies to promote equity, accessibility, and sustainability in urban environments. Following a quantitative inquiry technique, primary data was gathered from 109 built environment professionals with experience in sustainable urban development. To support this, descriptive and inferential statistics, particularly exploratory factor analysis (EFA), were used. According to the descriptive analysis using the mean score (MS) ranking technique, the development of affordable housing was one of the higher up-front innovative strategies for reshaping real estate development. Ensuring objectivity in city planning, re-engineering the city streets and buildings to create a safer environment were among the highly ranked strategies. The EFA further demonstrated that “urban redevelopment”, “government regulations”, “spatial planning”, “urban policy” and “diversification” were the underlying groups of new approaches for inclusive development. Implementing these innovative strategies, South Africa can move towards a more inclusive and equitable urban landscape, where urban real estate development becomes a force for positive social change, fostering sustainable economic growth and improving the quality of life for all citizens. This research contributes to the ongoing dialogue on urban development in South Africa and offers actionable insights for policymakers, developers, and community stakeholders invested in shaping more inclusive cities.

Spatial and Ethno-national Health Inequalities: Health and Mortality Gaps between Palestinians and Jews in Israel.

This research adopts an analytical spatial perspective to explain ethno-national health inequality between Palestinians and Jews in Israel. The work identifies the forces that instigated and maintained the spatial segregation of Palestinians and elaborates the role of segregation in generating health gaps between Palestinians and Jews. The analysis suggests a novel conceptualization of two types of segregation: (a) exclusion from the center and confinement to the periphery and (b) segregation within the geographic periphery. Using administrative data on COVID-19 incidence, hospitalization, and death and various health indicators for localities, I devise a decomposition method that evaluates the relative contribution of each type of segregation to the total health gap. The findings indicate that the segregation of Palestinians from the center and their confinement to peripheral regions are crucial determinants of their poor health outcomes and that the segregation of the Palestinian community within the geographic periphery also contributes to poorer health.

Assessment of Spatial Proportions of the Tax Potential of Small and Medium Enterprises in a Resource Type Region

Purpose of the study – to determine the spatial structure and concentration of tax revenues from the activities of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in municipal entities of the resource-type region (based on materials from the Kemerovo Region – Kuzbass), to characterize their compliance with the needs of local budgets.Materials and methods. The data on total tax revenues from SMEs, specific revenues per small and medium enterprise, in relation to population indexes, the total number of SMEs, the presence or absence of coal mining in the municipality were used. The coefficients of variation and oscillation, Atkinson index, the coefficient of paired correlation, Gatev coefficient, and the paired Student t-test were applied. The calculations were performed in the SPSS 19.0 program and the free software “R”.Results. The Kemerovo region – Kuzbass is characterized by high levels of spatial concentration of revenues from SMEs by municipalities, spatial inequality for this index. This is explained by not only the differences in the level of economic and business development between the centers and the periphery, but also by a large gap between municipalities in terms of population (10 times or more). The concentration and inequality of tax potential by municipalities in 2023 increased compared to 2021. The absolute values of revenues from special tax regimes and the population of municipalities have a very high level of correlation. Gatev coefficient (where another calculation method related to specific weights is used) showed a moderate degree of difference in the structures of these indexes. The center is ahead of the periphery in terms of the share of SMEs in the tax potential. Spatial inequality in revenues per one SME entity is moderate; in 2023, compared to 2021, a tendency towards an increase in this index was revealed. The leading positions are occupied by the Novokuznetsk municipal district (which is partly explained by the agglomeration effect of Novokuznetsk), Tashtagolsky municipal district (rapid development of the national resort of Sheregesh). The largest urban centers (Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk urban districts) occupy only third and fourth place. The absolute value of the tax potential of SMEs, as well as specific revenues from special tax regimes per one SME entity do not depend on the presence of a developed coal industry in the municipality.Conclusion. The study demonstrates spatial proportions and spatial inequality of municipalities in terms of SME tax potential, taking into account the specifics of resource-type regions. The presented methodological approach can be used to study a similar subject area in other regions dependent on mineral extraction. The findings of the study demonstrate the potential of SMEs in ensuring budget balance at the local level in the face of risks of declining coal production.

Towards designing a comprehensive composite index for social vulnerability to natural hazards in the big data era: potential challenges and partial solutions

AbstractThis study provides a practical definition and framework to measure social vulnerability to natural hazards, addressing gaps in the literature after three decades of Susan Cutter's Place-Based Model. The current social vulnerability index, designed based on available data such as census data, is limited in capturing all aspects of social vulnerability and spatial inequalities. This research explored and proposed a new theoretical perspective and methodological framework for designing a comprehensive index for social vulnerability to natural disasters using emerging big data, which is practical and feasible and can be applied to social vulnerability studies in general and social vulnerability to natural hazards in particular. This research first defines constructs of social vulnerability to natural hazards, including (1) socioeconomic status or conditions, (2) physical infrastructure or accessibility to facilities and services, (3) ecological-environmental conditions, (4) access to security facilities and crime rate, (5) technological inequalities, (6) health conditions of the citizens, and (7) susceptibility. Then, it proposes potential solutions for developing a comprehensive composite index under ideal conditions without (big) data limitations, using the US and the UK as case examples. These solutions are not just theoretical but also practical and feasible, instilling confidence in their implementation. This research offers valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in diverse sectors, supporting the design of effective disaster risk reduction strategies and intervention programs.

Spatial inequality in unsolved crimes: Evidence from small neighborhoods

AbstractUsing administrative data on the universe of police recorded crime linked to judicial outcomes for England and Wales from January 2013 to December 2018, we document—for the first time—large and persistent spatial inequalities in the proportion of solved and unsolved crimes across small neighborhoods covering a whole country. We find substantial differences across neighborhoods in the same municipality or police force. Fixed effects decompositions suggest that neighborhoods have different clearance rates across different crimes and that high‐crime neighborhoods also have high clearance rates, but with substantial heterogeneity across offences. Clearance rates correlate systematically with neighborhood composition.

Assessing spatial and racial equity of subway accessibility: Case study of New York City

Enhancing the utility of public transportation through easy and equitable access has become one of the focal points in the pursuit of social justice goals. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of equitable access to the subway system in New York City (NYC) based on geography and race/ethnicity, shedding light on the complex relationship between transportation equity, racial diversity, and urban dynamics. New York City is selected as the case study due to its diverse demographic makeup, extensive public transportation system, and paucity of previous research on the racial justice dimensions of its subway system. Gravity index is employed to investigate the accessibility of the NYC subway system in terms of distance from stops and the frequency of service while equity is analyzed by Gini coefficients and Lorenz curves. To conduct this analysis, American Community Survey (ACS) data and The General Transit Feed Specifications (GTFS) are used. The findings reveal that accessibility to the subway system varies across New York City's outer boroughs, with Queens, the largest borough by area, notably standing out due to its limited availability of subway stations. Moreover, the study uncovers stark racial disparities in accessibility within boroughs, with the non-Hispanic Black community in Queens (which represents 17 % of the borough's population) facing a pronounced lack of easy access to subway stations. These insights underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy reforms to address the identified disparities. Policymakers and transportation planners should prioritize initiatives such as increasing subway infrastructure in underserved areas, improving the frequency of service, and enhancing connectivity to reduce racial and spatial inequities in subway accessibility.

Towards equal neighborhood evolution? A longitudinal study of soundscape and visual evolution and housing value fluctuations in shenzhen

The equitable evolution of neighborhood environments is closely linked to housing economics. However, the lack of quantitative and longitudinal evaluation methods makes it challenging to assess residents' neighborhood perceptions and achieve social inclusiveness goals. Using long-time series street view imagery, we quantified Shenzhen residents' multidimensional neighborhood perceptions before and after micro-renovations, including visual and soundscape dimensions, and revealed the association between perceptual evolution and the housing value. We identified inequitable results during neighborhood renewal: Neighborhoods with high soundscape scores are accompanied by low visual perception scores, and vice versa. The spatial inequality is reflected in the perceptual differentiation prevalent between urban and suburbs. Visual aspects showed a stable but weak relationship with housing value fluctuations, while soundscape aspects had a strong but more dynamic impact. The inequitable spatial evolution is facilitated by changes in residents' perceptions: expectations for positive audio-visual perceptions are increasing, but sensitivity for negative soundscape is decreasing. Meanwhile, residents are increasingly seeking diverse and rich visual neighborhood landscapes and atmospheres filled with human voices. This study provides quantitative support for the equitable evolution of neighborhoods and the economics of neighborhood landscapes. It offers a novel method for measuring multidimensional perceptions that can be applied to settlements worldwide.

The Local Welfare State and Differences in Racialized Poverty

ABSTRACT Researchers concerned with the U.S. welfare state have documented that more localized administration allows for greater geographic variation in public policies as well as the greater potential for racial discrimination to influence policy outcomes. I explore whether key attributes of the local welfare state, capacity and spending, are associated with differences in racialized poverty across localities. I develop a conceptual framework drawing on two sociological traditions: spatial inequality framework and local welfare state theory. Spatial inequality scholarship provides a framework for interrogating why poverty varies across localities and racialized groups. Local welfare scholarship conceptualizes the processes by which local governments impact poverty and how those processes may be highly racialized. Drawing on data from the Census of Governments, I examine all local governments’ capacity and spending across counties in the U.S. and their association with poverty rates among white, Black, and Hispanic populations. I find that local governments’ capacity and spending do matter to understanding differences in racialized poverty. Specifically, racialized groups perceived as more deserving are likely to be the beneficiaries of local government interventions and policies. This study calls for greater attention to the local welfare state as a possible mechanism maintaining racial stratification.

Spatial inequality in sub-national human development index: A case study of West Bengal districts

Human Development and its regional disparity is an area of topical interest. In this paper, we consider space as an instrumental variable in understanding this disparity and explore spatial interdependence in human development across districts of West Bengal using alternate indicators of human development. This study uses both the standard United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) technique and an alternative methodology to construct a sub-national human development index. Spatial interdependence is measured using Moran's I coefficient and Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) cluster maps. Spatial regression is used to evaluate the spatial association between the Human Development Index as the dependent variable and a few independent variables. A high degree of clustering in all three dimensions of human development is observed among the southern districts of West Bengal. The pattern of cluster maps indicates the presence of both the growth pole process and the metropole-periphery process in the state. Spatial regression results indicate that the share of socially backward class population and urbanization rate are important variables affecting regional human development patterns. The findings of this study suggest policies targeted to promote social inclusion and urbanization linked with better access to economic opportunities in the lagging areas can help reduce regional imbalances.

Temporal and spatial convergence: the major depressive disorder burden attributed to intimate partner violence against women

ABSTRACT Background: There is a strong causal relationship between intimate partner violence and major depressive disorder, which partly endangers women's safety across the life course and potentially affects the development of future generations. The international community has placed a high priority on addressing the intimate partner violence and the resulting burden of mental illness. Data collection needs to be captured across the temporal trend and spatial distribution for major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence, to reflect the priorities and expectations of survivors. Method: This research obtained raw disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) information for major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence from the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Using estimated annual percentage change and two-way fixed effects models, a secondary spatio-temporal analysis of the age-standardized DALYs rate from 1990 to 2019 was performed. Results: In 2019, DALYs lost among women experiencing major depressive disorder (3.16 million) accounted for 37.18% of the DALYs lost worldwide due to intimate partner violence. The age-standardized DALYs rate of major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence was 108.57 per 100,000. The highest was concentrated in the menopausal transition (45-55), with 133.61 per 100,000, and particularly distributed in Uganda (429.31 per 100,000). The early reproductive period (15–19) showed the increasing age-standardized DALYs rate from 1990 to 2019, which was mainly driven by Malaysia (3.73% per year). Furthermore, countries with higher initial levels of the age-standardized DALYs rate were growing faster than those with lower levels. Conclusions: The burden of major depressive disorder attributed to intimate partner violence showed biological and spatial inequality, prioritized intervention should be targeted at vulnerable stage women in their early reproductive period and menopausal transition. Combined political, socio-cultural as well as medical measures to prevent violence and treat major depressive disorder should be implemented and developed.

Street tree communities reflect socioeconomic inequalities and legacy effects of colonial planning in Nairobi, Kenya

Street trees provide ecological and social benefits that sustain urban life, yet their distribution frequently mirrors socioeconomic inequalities, meaning underprivileged social groups also have fewer trees. The distribution patterns of urban trees are least documented in the cities of rapidly evolving middle-income countries. We assessed whether street tree abundance, size, condition, diversity, and composition vary across census-derived socioeconomic strata in Nairobi, Kenya. We sampled 2047 trees across 12 neighborhoods, covering 24 km of street, then used linear regression to understand how socioeconomic strata relate to street tree characteristics. We found substantial disparities in tree abundance, with affluent areas harboring 91.5 % of the trees sampled. Low-income areas and informal settlements had comparably few trees. Mean diameter and condition did not vary across socioeconomic strata, but high-income, formerly European neighborhoods had a higher proportion of small trees, indicating a bias in recent urban greening investments further benefiting these areas. Species diversity followed a similar pattern of inequality. High-income neighborhoods had over 30 % higher species richness and diversity than low-income areas. Even so, lower income neighborhoods exhibited greater differences in street tree community composition, and a higher proportion of trees that bear edible fruit or are used in traditional medicine. Overall, our results reveal pronounced spatial inequality in the distribution of street trees in Nairobi, reflecting not only socioeconomic differences but the enduring legacies of colonial planning.

Unveiling the dynamic flows and spatial inequalities arising from agricultural methane and nitrous oxide emissions

Tracing the spatial transfer and heterogeneity of agricultural methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in China is a prerequisite for the sustainable transformation of agricultural systems. In this study, we established a research framework for evaluating agricultural CH4 and N2O flows and convergence. Using this framework, we established an inventory of China's agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions calculated according to the IPCC inventory guidelines, built a food trade model to simulate the spatial transfer, and revealed the regional differences. Finally, we analyzed the influence mechanism by combining extended Kaya identity and the logarithmic mean divisia index (LMDI) model. We found that inter-regional transfer of agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions in China have intensified, increasing from 56.14 % of total transfers in 2000 to 67.28 % in 2019. The spatial inequalities of agricultural CH4 and N2O increased, and emission intensity varied more within regions than between regions, with per capita emissions showing a club convergence with “intragroup convergence and intergroup divergence”. Although the contribution of agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions varies across provinces, controlling emissions intensity and land use intensity while maintaining GDP per capita is the key to emission mitigation. Our study provides theoretical support for prioritizing policies to mitigate agricultural CH4 and N2O emissions.

Surviving in the midst of 'Nowhere': Disrupting the conceptualisation of a maternity care desert.

The conceptualisation of 'care deserts' has gained increased public attention in recent years. This paper engages a reproductive justice framework to investigate the (mis)alignment of a maternity care desert within a predominantly Black rural community in the United States. I draw on a case study of Gadsden County, Florida-a community that is perceived by its members to be a maternity care desert but that is not technically defined as one-to demonstrate how Black birthing people are cultivating a reproductive liberatory consciousness. Semi-structured interviews with birthing persons and reproductive health experts reveal three overarching processes-naming barriers to health equity, resisting health inequity and cultivating health equity-that characterise a reproductive liberatory consciousness, which I identify as an analytical tool to outline how local social actors are identifying structural constraints as well as developing strategies of communal care and resistance. This work contributes to sociological research on reproductive justice and health equity by exploring the limitations of 'desert' frameworks. Pointing to the need to carefully consider the mechanisms that actively disrupt and potentially transform spatial stratifications and inequities, this paper advances a new understanding of birthing space that captures the layered movements of those living within a perceived maternity care desert.

Neoliberalism, left behind Middlesbrough and levelling up: an intractable policy task?

ABSTRACT Proposing to narrow spatial inequalities in one of the most unbalanced economies in the developed world, the Levelling Up agenda was a key driving force behind the Conservative Party obtaining their largest majority since 1987 at the 2019 general election. The agenda, though, has been beset by various problems and has all but fallen by the political wayside. One key problem was that it lacked a political economic understanding of left behind places, especially Northern post-industrial locales that were lagging particularly due to deindustrialisation under neoliberalism. Many of these post-industrial places have endured persistent deprivation and entrenched social problems for around four decades. This paper is structured as follows. It begins by exploring UK neoliberalism, before briefly discussing the emergence of left behind places and the Levelling Up agenda. Focussing on the experiences of left behind Middlesbrough, in Teesside, UK, the article explores the area’s rise in light of the iron, steel and petrochemicals industries and its decline particularly in the neoliberal era. As the town’s demise is intimately connected to neoliberalism, the paper closes by discussing why it is highly unlikely left behind places such as Middlesbrough will be revived under the UK’s current form of capitalism.