The Preferred Neighbourhood: The Role of Migrant Background and Income in Sorting towards Segregation

Karen Haandrikman , Stockholm University, Dept of Human Geography
Eva K. Andersson, Stockholm University

Neighbourhood preferences form an important mechanism for spatial segregation patterns. The preference to live amongst people you believe you are similar to affects the spatial sorting of people by migrant and income status. Such patterns are impacted by the neighbourhood level of income and ethnic diversity, and changes therein. The aim of this paper is to examine the preferred composition of migrants and low- and high-income residents among neighbours, using the Neighbourhood Survey 2020, that is representative for Swedish neighbourhoods. Respondents were asked to denote their preferred neighbourhood in terms of ethnic and income composition. Our preliminary findings show that first, the majority prefers a mixed neighbourhood, if they could choose freely. Second, individual ethnic background and income level is associated with neighbourhood preferences for ethnic diversity and income composition, i.e. likes like like. Third, the type of neighbourhood is an important determinant of residential preferences, with those in the most ethnically and otherwise diverse areas, and those in urban academic areas, being the most positive towards ethnic diversity in their neighbourhood. Residents of less ethnically diverse areas prefer much less ethnic diversity, especially when they live close to distressed areas. The same applies to home owners with a Swedish background. Preferences for high-income neighbours are especially prevalent among those voting to the right side of the political spectrum. It is likely that these distinct preferences in neighbourhood preferences will impact residential sorting.

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 Presented in Session 114. Internal Migration, Spatial Inequalities and Segregation