Showing papers in "Urban Studies in 2001"
TL;DR: In this article, a critical review of the literature on social capital and its application in the context of local social relations is presented, with a focus on where the contemporary residential neighbourhood fits into these wider debates, particularly in relation to the interaction between social cohesion and social capital.
Abstract: In current theoretical and policy debates concerning social cohesion, the neighbourhood has re-emerged as an important setting for many of the processes which supposedly shape social identity and life-chances. It is in this context of a renewal of interest in local social relations and particularly the deployment of notions of social capital that this paper offers a critical review of a wide-ranging literature. The paper explores initially and briefly the idea that societies face a new crisis of social cohesion and outlines the key dimensions of societal cohesion. The core of the paper is then devoted to an examination of where the contemporary residential neighbourhood fits into these wider debates, particularly in relation to the interaction between social cohesion and social capital. In this context, some of the key debates around the concept of social capital are outlined. In moving beyond abstraction, the paper also shows how social capital can be broken down into relevant domains for policy action a...
1,493 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the conceptualisation of neighbourhood by specifying it as a bundle of spatially based attributes associated with clusters of residences, sometimes in conjunction with other land attributes is presented.
Abstract: The paper advances the conceptualisation of neighbourhood by specifying it as a bundle of spatially based attributes associated with clusters of residences, sometimes in conjunction with other land...
621 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the polycentric urban region concept of city planning, and discuss factors affecting the growth of cities and towns, and the Demise of the basic monocentric model at an intraurban level.
Abstract: Focuses on the polycentric urban region concept of city planning. Overview of the concept; Factors affecting the growth of cities and towns; Demise of the basic monocentric model at an intraurban level
547 citations
541 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the question of whether it is worse to be poor in a poor area or in an area which is more socially mixed; in short, does living in a deprived area compound the disadvantage experienced by its residents, and do area effects contribute to social exclusion?
Abstract: This paper focuses on the question of whether it is worse to be poor in a poor area or in an area which is more socially mixed; in short, does living in a deprived area compound the disadvantage experienced by its residents, and do area effects contribute to social exclusion? The idea of social areas having direct or mediated effects on the lives of their residents continues to interest and challenge academic and policy debates on the effect of concentrated poverty and on the creation of more mixed and, thereby, more sustainable neighbourhood forms. However, area effects remain contentious and British research evidence is scant. Following a review of the theoretical and empirical understandings of the relationship between households and neighbourhoods, the paper presents survey data from a comparative study of deprived and socially mixed neighbourhoods in Glasgow and Edinburgh. These data provide evidence that supports the area effects thesis, in particular in relation to area reputation and employment. The paper concludes that, with certain caveats, living in areas of geographically concentrated poverty creates additional problems for residents.
464 citations
TL;DR: Forrest et al. as discussed by the authors argue that the neighbourhood can serve several functions, most notably those of relaxation and re-creation of self; making connections with others; fostering attachment and belonging; and demonstrating or re-ef ecting one's own values.
Abstract: the functions so that the demarcations presented in Table 1 represent general tendencies rather than watertight distinctions. In particular, in different urban settings, neighbourhoods may be either unable to perform their intended function or, alternatively, may be able to perform additional functions; for example, in a high-quality, high-density inner-city location, the neighbourhood may provide both a place of belonging and a landscape of wider opportunity. The smallest unit of neighbourhood, here referred to as the ‘home area’, is typically de ned as an area of 5–10 minutes walk from one’s home. Here, we would expect the psycho-social purposes of neighbourhood to be strongest. As shown elsewhere (Kearns et al., 2000), the neighbourhood, in terms of the quality of environment and perceptions of co-residents, is an important element in the derivation of psycho-social bene ts from the home. In terms of Brower’s (1996) outline of the ‘good neighbourhood’ , the home area can serve several functions, most notably those of relaxation and re-creation of self; making connections with others; fostering attachment and belonging; and demonstrating or re ecting one’s own values. Key considerations in the contemporary circumstance include the following: whether The neighbourhood is prominent in contemporary urban policy and research, but why should this be so? And can we be clear as to what ‘the neighbourhood’ is in any case? In this introductory essay to the Special Issue of Urban Studies, we shall attempt to shed light on these questions. In answer to his own question “Does neighbourhood still matter in a globalised world?”, Forrest declares that it does, “but its degree of importance depends on who you are and where you are” (Forrest, 2000, p. 30). The complexity of the neighbourhood and its varying relevance to inhabitants are, in a way, the key to this conundrum: governments and policy-makers are neither able to control global capitalism and its effects, nor at the other end of the scale to direct or manage the fortunes of individual neighbourhoods within their jurisdictions. Neighbourhood change is proving unpredictable and resulting in ever-wider gaps in fortune and prosperity between places within single regions and countries. There is no single, generalisable interpretation of the neighbourhood. In a slight adaptation of Suttles’ (1972) schema, we might say that the neighbourhood exists at three different scales, each with its own predominant purpose or function, as shown in Table 1. However, each scale can perform each of
443 citations
TL;DR: This article argued that the gentrification process in inner London is leading to heterogeneous middle-class neighbourhoods, which contrasts with the perceived homogeneity of the traditional suburban area, and argued that their differences can, to a limited extent, be understood in terms of the differential deployment of cultural, social and economic capital by their middleclass residents.
Abstract: Social capital has been used extensively in recent years to examine issues of social exclusion. Following Bourdieu, the concept is reintegrated into social theory alongside cultural and economic capital to examine the variations in the upgrading of gentrified areas of inner London. Three neighbourhoods in south London are compared and it is argued that their differences can, to a limited extent, be understood in terms of the differential deployment of cultural, social and economic capital by their middle-class residents. These neighbourhoods have acquired distinctive characters as a result and it is argued that the gentrification process in inner London is leading to heterogeneous middle-class neighbourhoods which contrasts with the perceived homogeneity of the traditional suburban area.
377 citations
TL;DR: This article used data from the British Household Panel Study linked to local area characteristics to explore how far there is evidence that outcomes associated with social exclusion (non-monetary poverty measures, measures of labour market engagement, entry into jobs and flows in and out of poverty) may be associated with neighbourhood characteristics.
Abstract: Interest in the influence of the neighbourhood on the life-chances of individuals has been increasing. However, methodological problems in identifying causal models of these influences suggest the need for caution in such inference. This paper uses data from the British Household Panel Study linked to local area characteristics to explore how far there is evidence that outcomes associated with social exclusion (non-monetary poverty measures, measures of labour market engagement, entry into jobs and flows in and out of poverty) may be associated with neighbourhood characteristics. The paper finds significant associations even when controlling for a substantial range of individual characteristics. There is also limited evidence of a non-linear effect with worse outcomes in the very worst areas for at least one measure. Analysis of the spatial scale of associations suggests mixed results, with stronger associations at the most local scales for some but not all outcomes.
361 citations
TL;DR: The demographic regime in western Europe and many other countries of the developed world is now very different from that of 30-40 years ago and is continuing to evolve as discussed by the authors and at the same time, settlement systems have been altering significantly in spatial structure, notably in terms of the emergence of polycentric urban configurations.
Abstract: The demographic regime in western Europe and many other countries of the developed world is now very different from that of 30-40 years ago and is continuing to evolve. At the same time, settlement systems have been altering significantly in spatial structure, notably in terms of the emergence of polycentric urban configurations. This paper examines the nature of these two sets of changes and searches for linkages between them. First, it outlines the main features of the changing demographic regime. Secondly, it attempts to identify what constitutes 'polycentric urban regions' as opposed to traditional monocentric structures. Thirdly, it assesses how recent demographic developments relate to traditional urban structures and discusses whether they are more conformable with polycentric urban forms.
308 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of perceptions of the local residential environment and self-reported health in four socially contrasting neighbourhoods in Glasgow in the late 1990s was carried out to support the importance of tackling anti-social problems in worst-off areas and of neighbourhood management across a range of areas.
Abstract: This paper describes an analysis of perceptions of the local residential environment and self-reported health in four socially contrasting neighbourhoods in Glasgow in the late 1990s. After adjusting for individual characteristics such as age, sex and social class, neighbourhood of residence predicted perceptions of problems and neighbourhood cohesion in the area: and self-assessed health, mental health and recent symptoms were associated with perceived local problems and neighbourhood cohesion. Housing tenure and employment status also predicted perceptions of the neighbourhood. These results support the importance of tackling anti-social problems in worst-off areas and of neighbourhood management across a range of areas.
300 citations
TL;DR: The degree of social capital accumulated in a neighbourhood affects the path leadership succession takes as partnerships develop as mentioned in this paper, which can contribute to the effectiveness of neighbourhood regeneration partnerships, but it is difficult to measure the degree of trust between individuals and organisations in both partnership and community.
Abstract: Social capital consisting of trust relationships between a community and its leaders can contribute to the effectiveness of neighbourhood regeneration partnerships. Engagement with partnerships can also generate vital new resources of social capital for the community. This depends on community leaders, as social entrepreneurs or community representatives. Social entrepreneurs resemble 'transformational leaders', combining entrepreneurial skills with a vision for the neighbourhood. Community representatives resemble 'transactional leaders' who interact with their followers. Ambivalence over trust between individuals and organisations in both partnerships and community reveals difficulties in accumulating social capital. The degree of social capital accumulated in a neighbourhood affects the path leadership succession takes as partnerships develop.
TL;DR: In this paper, an activity-based approach is used to analyse one specific short-trip purpose that has persistently frustrated transport analysts trying to induce more walk, cycle or public transport based trips.
Abstract: An activity-based approach is used to analyse one specific short-trip purpose that has persistently frustrated transport analysts trying to induce more walk, cycle or public transport based trips. This study of the journey-to-school trip is motivated by a general consensus that, to effect a more sustainable transport system, there is a necessity to reduce car use (especially for short trips). Resistance to modal transfer from cars has been shown to be embedded in various psycho-social obstacles which are not readily teased out in orthodox econometric studies of travel demand. We report on an empirical study which fuses psychometric (construction of coping scales) and econometric analyses (logit analysis) in an attempt to uncover the psychological and sociological factors influencing modal choice, as well as the usual range of economic and demographic factors.
TL;DR: In this article, an econometric analysis using data across 47 US metropolitan areas reveals that employment densities and urban primacy are positively associated with worker productivity, suggesting the presence of agglomeration economies.
Abstract: The influences of urban form and transport infrastructure on economic performance show up in several contemporary policy debates, notably 'sprawl versus compact city' and in the developing world, the future of mega-cities. This paper probes these relationships using two scales of analysis. At the macro scale, an econometric analysis using data across 47 US metropolitan areas reveals that employment densities and urban primacy are positively associated with worker productivity, suggesting the presence of agglomeration economies. Congested freeways are shown to be a consequence of strong economic performance. An intrametropolitan analysis using data on sub-districts of the San Francisco Bay Area generally reinforces the findings of the macro-scale analysis. In the Bay Area, labour productivity appears to increase with size of labour-marketshed and high accessibility between residences and firms. Higher employment density and well-functioning infrastructure also contribute positively to economic performance.
TL;DR: This paper asserted that globalisation and occupational changes associated with post-Fordist economic restructuring have led to a growth in intraurban social disparity and even polarisat... and argued that these changes led to an increase in social inequality.
Abstract: Numerous authors have asserted that globalisation and occupational changes associated with post-Fordist economic restructuring have led to a growth in intraurban social disparity and even polarisat...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the reasons why this is the case with reference to the problematical perspectives and methodologies of transport policy-makers and planners and demonstrate that "transport disadvantage" is experienced by many different groups within society and is a social concern that must be included as a priority target for public policy.
Abstract: Many groups within society continue to experience, and be subjected to, what can only be termed 'transport disadvantage'. Traditionally, recognition of the barriers experienced by these groups has been overlooked. The paper explores the reasons why this is the case with reference to the problematical perspectives and methodologies of transport policy-makers and planners. Personal accounts of individuals are used to demonstrate that 'transport disadvantage' is experienced by many different groups within society and is a social concern that must be included as a priority target for public policy. The importance of considering such travel experiences becomes apparent and is paramount to the development of barrier-free living.
TL;DR: The sub-discipline of "urban politics" has been constructed in opposition to a traditional version of "institutional theory" as mentioned in this paper, an approach that collapsed the political processes affecting urban commu...
Abstract: The sub-discipline of 'urban politics' has been constructed in opposition to a traditional version of 'institutional theory'-an approach that collapsed the political processes affecting urban commu...
TL;DR: The current status of local economic development (LED) in South Africa is investigated in this paper, where, over the past decade, local governments, community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have become significantly more active in locality-based economic development.
Abstract: In recent years, local economic development (LED) has become a widely practised development strategy in the countries of the North at both the local government and community levels. LED is less widely implemented in the South where, in most instances, it appears to be still in an incipient phase. This paper investigates the current status of LED in South Africa, where, over the past decade, local governments, community groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have become significantly more active in locality-based economic development. Several local governments have established comprehensive LED programmes including the establishment of LED units and the pursuit of a range of developmental strategies, whilst in parallel, an array of community and NGO initiatives are in place. In almost all cases, however, results are still of a rather limited nature and this paper assesses some of the reasons for this situation.
TL;DR: In this paper, the progress made since 1994 to reduce the deep social and spatial divisions in South African cities, focusing on the impact of current development trends in Cape Town, is examined.
Abstract: The paper examines the progress made since 1994 to reduce the deep social and spatial divisions in South African cities, focusing on the impact of current development trends in Cape Town. Basic pub...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that the latter need to be sensitive to the interaction between macro-structural and local, reinforcing processes and that 'people-based' policies need to complemented by 'people and place' ones, and see neighbourhoods as an appropriate spatial scale for understanding the operation of 'everyday life-worlds'.
Abstract: Neighbourhood has become a key spatial scale in the UK government's policies for urban regeneration and social inclusion, resuscitating the long-standing debate over the efficacy of area-based policies. The paper argues that the latter need to be sensitive to the interaction between macro-structural and local, reinforcing processes and that 'people-based' policies need to be complemented by 'people and place' ones. The complexities of `neighbourhood' definition are explored, using the distinction between `neighbourhood' and 'place-based community' to support an argument for seeing neighbourhoods as an appropriate spatial scale for understanding the operation of 'everyday life-worlds'. Drawing on research based on a specific regeneration initiative, the 'Pathways to Integration' priority of the Objective 1 Structural Funds Programme for Merseyside (1994-99), the paper goes on to explore the political and operational issues surrounding the spatial targeting of policy and some of the partnership issues surro...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relationship between participation, empowerment and sustainability in South Africa and found that a relationship does exist and is contingent on a number of contextual factors, crucial to its success.
Abstract: This paper investigates the relationship between participation, empowerment and sustainability. Using the multisectoral and multicontextual experience of participation amassed in South Africa, both pre- and post-apartheid , we address two questions: does participation lead to empowerment; and does empowerment, in turn, lead to sustainability? Further, what external factors mediate and influence that relationship? Analysis shows that a relationship does exist and is contingent on a number of contextual factors, crucial to its success. Findings are discussed in terms of the international literature on community participation and local democracy, and policy implications are identified.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the effects of historic district designation on property values across a larger set of cities and found that, in most cases, historic designation is associated with higher property values.
Abstract: Summary. Designation of historic districts is increasingly used as a tool to revive or halt the deterioration of central-city neighbourhoods. While historic designation is generally thought to have a positive impact on property values, evidence on this issue is mixed. One limitation of previous research is that it typically focuses on historic neighbourhoods in one city and thus bases its conclusions on a very limited sample. This study expands upon previous work by examining the effects of designation on property values across a larger set of cities. The study employs hedonic regression models to estimate housing prices in historic districts and comparable neighbourhoods in nine Texas cities. Results suggest that, in most cases, historic designation is associated with higher property values.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore at what level of spatial aggregation contemporary tendencies of clustering of economic activities articulate themselves within the archetypal polycentric urban region of the Dutch Randstad.
Abstract: Local contexts are becoming more important as the impact of the process of globalisation on the spatial distribution of economic activities seems to generate not so much processes of homogenisation as of heterogenisation between regions in advanced economies. The combination of specialisation and spatial concentration of economic activity in advanced economies has attracted much attention from economists and geographers. Here, we explore at what level of spatial aggregation contemporary tendencies of clustering of economic activities articulate themselves within the archetypal polycentric urban region of the Dutch Randstad. To examine this question, we look at profiles of business start-ups in the individual cities of the Randstad. Our focus is on business start-ups as they respond most directly to the changes taking place in the economic environment and especially those regarding the supply of labour. Our findings point to the direction of cluster formation at a supraurban level. The profiles of business...
TL;DR: In this article, the cross-sectional variation in changes in home-ownership and unemployment rates between 1970 and 1990 was analyzed and it was shown that the relationship is non-existent for both young households and old households, but exists for middle-aged households.
Abstract: In this paper, we scrutinise Oswald's evidence that home-ownership and unemployment are correlated across the US states. In order to abstract from state fixed-effects in levels, we analyse the cross-sectional variation in changes in home-ownership and unemployment rates between 1970 and 1990. After duplicating (nearly) Oswald's result, we illustrate the importance of weighting the state observations by the fraction of total US households in 1970 that resided in the respective states and of abstracting from the ageing of the population between 1970 and 1990: this causes Oswald's correlation to to disappear. Secondly, we estimate the relationship for six different age-classes and for household heads and total population. We find that the relationship is non-existent for both young households and old households, but exists for middle-aged households. Young households have accumulated little wealth and have had less time to become attached to the geographical area than middle-aged households and thus are more...
TL;DR: In this paper, a detailed case study is presented of the film production complex in Vancouver, which has risen to prominence as Hollywood studios and television networks have continued to increase their offshore location shooting.
Abstract: The new industrial district is now seen as one of several dynamic regional formations that may co-exist in contemporary economies. In addition to the traditional Marshallian or Italianate variety, Markusen has suggested three other forms of industrial district: the hub-and-spoke district, the satellite platform and the state-anchored district. In this article, developments within the North American film industry are used to illustrate the dynamics of a 'hybrid' industrial district form, which is termed the satellite-Marshallian district. A detailed case study is presented of the film production complex in Vancouver, which has risen to prominence as Hollywood studios and television networks have continued to increase their offshore location shooting. The analysis is based upon a series of in-depth interviews undertaken with key agents associated with the Vancouver film industry in the second half of 1997.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare various real estate valuation models and the manner in which they take into account environmental variables, and find that artificial neural network (ANN) models exhibit a similar general form of the price indices, but that the detailed price behaviours of different models feature notable differences depending on the input choice of environmental variables.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to compare various real estate valuation models and the manner in which they take into account environmental variables. The reference model is taken to be a standard linear regression model including ordinal variables to measure environmental quality. This type of model is widely used. It is first compared with linear models which incorporate environmental quality notes extracted from the urban habitat database of a geographic information system (GIS) which has been developed recently for Geneva, Switzerland. We also incorporate these quality notes in a single input parameter, a so-called geo-index. The price indices constructed in this way are quite similar to the more traditional hedonic model. We additionally find that artificial neural network (ANN) models, which are non-linear per se, exhibit a similar general form of the price indices, but that the detailed price behaviours of different models feature notable differences depending on the input choice of environmental variables.
TL;DR: In this paper, the role of regional headquarters in the globalisation strategies of transnational corporations is analyzed, drawing upon a theoretical gap in existing urba... and a framework for analysing regional headquarters.
Abstract: This paper presents a framework for analysing the role of regional headquarters in the globalisation strategies of transnational corporations (TNCs). Drawing upon a theoretical gap in existing urba...
TL;DR: In this paper, an analysis of the results of the 1996 census reveals a general decline in urban racial segregation levels in South Africa since the end of legal apartheid in 1991, however, the trends are not unif...
Abstract: An analysis of the results of the 1996 census reveals a general decline in urban racial segregation levels in South Africa since the end of legal apartheid in 1991. However, the trends are not unif...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the various representations of the gecekondu people in these studies in different periods by placing them in their social political and economic contexts, and conclude that while the approach to the geçkonu people varies from an elitist one to one which is sympathetic to the Geçkontu people, this group nevertheless has been consistently the inferior Other for Turkish gececondu researchers.
Abstract: This article aims to develop a critical approach to squatter (gecekondu) studies in Turkey and investigates the various representations of the gecekondu people in these studies in different periods by placing them in their social political and economic contexts. It details changes in the representation of the gecekondu population from the rural Other in the 1950s and 1960s to the disadvantaged Other in the 1970s and early 1980s to the urban poor Other(s) the undeserving rich Other(s) and the culturally inferior Other(s) as Sub-culture between the mid 1980s and 1990s and finally to the threatening/varoslu Other in the late 1990s. It asserts that while the approach to the gecekondu people varies from an elitist one to one which is sympathetic to the gecekondu people this group nevertheless has been consistently the inferior Other for Turkish gecekondu researchers. (authors)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed and compared the dynamics of clusters in nine urban regions in Europe and found that the cluster perspective in the studying of growth processes in cities has added value because, increasingl...
Abstract: This paper analyses and compares the dynamics of clusters in nine urban regions in Europe. The cluster perspective in the studying of growth processes in cities has added value because, increasingl...
TL;DR: The authors show that urban settlement structures from much earlier times are persistent to a degree that is extraordinary and propose various spatially disaggregate models of urban development which generate an evolution of polynucleated settlement from initial, random distributions of urban activit
Abstract: City systems show a degree of resilience and persistence that has rarely been emphasised in urban theory There is a fascination for recent and contemporary change which suggests that phenomena such as the rise of the 'edge city', for example, comprise the predominant forces determining how a polynucleated landscape of cities is emerging We argue here that such explanations of polynucleation are largely false Urban settlement structures from much earlier times are persistent to a degree that is extraordinary We show this in two ways: first, from empirical evidence of stable rank-size relations in the urban settlement system for Great Britain over the past 100 years; and, secondly, from simulations based on weak laws of proportionate effect which produce aggregate patterns entirely consistent with these empirical relations We then propose various spatially disaggregate models of urban development which generate an evolution of polynucleated settlement from initial, random distributions of urban activit