Segregation in the urban regions of Upper Austria
Problem definition
Problem definition
Large cities, metropolises, and capitals have traditionally been the focus of segregation research (Musterd 2020), while the analysis of socio-spatial imbalances in the context of small and medium-sized towns only plays a comparatively minor role. However, a number of existing studies reveal that small and medium-sized towns are likewise characterised by a considerable degree of residential segregation (Helbig and Jähnen 2018). Segregation in small and medium-sized towns represent a relevant research gap in the literature (Schmidt-Lauber 2010), with the absence of small-scale data being cited as the main reason for this lack of research. This is particularly problematic as segregation trends in small and medium-sized towns are primarily relevant within neighbourhoods and districts.
Objectives and research question
This study aims to analyse the extent and dynamics of social and ethnic segregation in small and medium-sized cities between 2014 and 2023. We will examine the effects of different factors (such as location, the housing-market segment, or the regional labour-market structure) on social and ethnic segregation in Upper-Austrian urban regions, focusing on core cities. The following research questions will be answered:
Research question 1: What are the extent and dynamics of residential segregation in cities at the micro level?
Research question 2: Where can geostatistical analyses be used to identify hotspots and coolspots of residential segregation?
Research question 3: What is the effect of “places of arrival” on residential segregation?
Research question 4: Which factors influence the extent and dynamics of residential segregation?
Methodology
Residential segregation is calculated for the eight Upper-Austrian urban regions (delineated according to the urban-rural typology of Statistics Austria). In order to estimate the housing-market and location effect, the analyses will be carried out on 250m grid cells, but within the grid cells the data will be linked at the level of individual residential buildings. The Austrian Microdata Centre (AMDC) is responsible for linking the housing-market and location indicators with the socio-economic variables. Subsequently, segregation is calculated on the basis of the microdata within and between the 250m grid cells.
September 2024 – August 2025
Funding
Federal Chancellery, Vienna