The forgotten pillar: a definition for the measurement of social sustainability in American cities

ABSTRACT

This article provides a timely review of the interdisciplinary and disjointed literature on social sustainability and identifies some readily available measures of this concept for American cities. Based upon a comprehensive review of the literature, four broad dimensions are identified as being reflective of social sustainability: equal access and opportunity, environmental justice, community and the value of place, and basic human needs. Breaking these four dimensions into measurable indicators, this research provides a method for researchers and for American cities to begin to evaluate and to assess social sustainability efforts within their jurisdictions.

KEYWORDS:

• Social sustainability
• social equity
• sustainable cities

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1 DINK = double income, no kids. It is generally thought that residents who contribute to tax receipts but do not use significant public services are the most attractive for cities.

2 Food deserts are areas in a city where access to healthy affordable food options is limited or does not exist.

3 http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-environment-atlas/about-the-atlas.aspx.

4 One such available source is located here: http://www.peterrosenmai.com/lorenz-curve-graphing-tool-and-gini-coefficient-calculator.