Research Note—Measuring Ethnic Residential Segregation: Putting Some More Geography In

Abstract

Most studies of urban ethnic residential patterns rely on various single-number indices to demonstrate the degree of spatial segregation. These have been criticized on a variety of grounds, and various other approaches have been proposed, including the use of measures of statistical autocorrelation and typologies of areas based on their population composition. These alternatives provide a greater geographical appreciation of segregation than the indices. It is argued here—using Auckland, New Zealand as a case study—that their integration could substantially increase our evaluation of segregation levels.

Keywords:

• ethnic segregation
• measurement
• local statistics
• Auckland