Swedish full-population data since 1990 show that income segregation is highest between neighborhoods within municipalities exceeding polarization between regions. It is driven largely by labor income disparities and the extremes of both the income and area distributions, with the lowest- and highest-income residents concentrating in the poorest and richest areas, respectively. Neighborhood-segregation increases up 15% are almost interely driven by capital income segregation.

Moreover, housing segregation as best proxy for wealth segregation in both China and Sweden are highest for housing prices, followed by rents and other housing characteristics. Total house price (and size) segregation is largely driven by extremes (particular top-20%), following a U-shaped curve.

Overall, the research suggests that macro-inequality trends do not leave micro-spatial inequalities untouched.

About the speaker

Sebastian Kohl is currently full Professor of Sociology at Berlin's Free University (JFK Institute), Germany. Previously, he worked as a senior researcher at Cologne's Max Planck Institute for the Study of Societies. His current research focus is on the political economy of housing and the insurance sector, both in historical-comparative perspective. His research appeared in journals such as Housing Studies, Urban Studies, Journal of Finance, AER Insights or Socio-Economic Review. His book Homeownership, Renting, and Society appeared with Routledge in 2017. More information at: www.sebastiankohl.com.