Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/79089

Title

Happy people in mixed-up places: the association between the degree and type of local socioeconomic mix and expressions of neighbourhood satisfaction

Author(s)

Baum, Scott;  Arthurson, Kathryn;  Rickson, Kara

Abstract

The potential impacts that a range of social, economic, demographic and structural factors have on an individual’s level of perceived satisfaction with their neighbourhood continue to be an important focus of research interest. This paper concentrates on a specific feature of the neighbourhood satisfaction literature by considering the impact of local neighbourhood socioeconomic mix on satisfaction. It suggests that, if neighbourhood satisfaction is associated with strong and sustainable communities, then understanding the drivers of neighbourhood satisfaction remains an important part of the empirical investigation. Using a combination of survey data and aggregate census data, the paper considers how, net of other factors, the socioeconomic mix of the local neighbourhood impacts on satisfaction. It finds that the socioeconomic mix characteristics of the neighbourhood do matter in understanding neighbourhood satisfaction and suggests that this has important implications for polices aiming at strengthening and sustaining local communities.

Publication type

Journal article

Research centre

Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Life and Social Sciences. Institute for Social Research

Source

Urban Studies, Vol. 47, no. 3 (Mar 2010), pp. 467-485

Publication year

2010

FOR Code(s)

1205 Urban and Regional Planning;  1402 Applied Economics;  1604 Human Geography

Keyword(s)

Neighbourhoods;  Satisfaction;  Socioeconomics

Publisher

Sage Publications

ISSN

0042-0980

Publisher URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0042098009351941

Copyright

Copyright © 2009 Urban Studies Journal Limited.

Peer reviewed