Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/51662 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 5634
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In this paper, we review the evidence base for social mixing in neighbourhoods, which is used as a strategy to tackle assumed negative neighbourhood effects. We discuss in detail the theoretical links between neighbourhood characteristics, and outcomes of individuals living in concentrations of poverty. Through this we identify the theoretical case for promoting socially mixed communities. We then review the empirical evidence base, focusing on outcomes of the American poverty deconcentration initiatives including the Moving to Opportunity and HOPE VI programs. We identify that the evidence from these programs is at best inconclusive. Turning to the European experience we identify problems associated with using observational data to assess individual outcomes in relation to their neighbourhood context. We conclude by suggesting that the evidence base for social mixing is far from robust, and that many of the current empirical papers suffer from serious analytical shortcomings. Ultimately, the process of creating more socially mixed neighbourhoods is unlikely to create more opportunities in life for the original residents. Socially mixing neighbourhoods through tenure mixing will only change the population composition of neighbourhoods, increasing average incomes because more affluent (and employed) residents will move into the owner occupied housing replacing social housing.
Subjects: 
neighbourhood effects
social mixing
tenure mix
evidence base
housing policy
JEL: 
I30
J60
R23
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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