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What is achieved and lost in living in a mixed-income neighborhood? Findings from South Korea

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Abstract

The concept of social mix is perceived as an attempt to minimize social exclusion by enhancing individual social capital. Related policies have been implemented in many countries to prevent isolation of certain groups and achieve social integration. However, few studies have examined their impacts on various income groups. This study uses data from the National Social Capital Survey in South Korea to empirically investigate the impact of the social mix policy on trust, networks, and norms, which are the three types of social capital that promote social integration. Multiple regression models present that the income mix is negatively associated with neighborly trust and networks, while being positively associated with norms. These models also suggest that mixing of income groups improves the norms of low-income groups but reduces the trust of high-income groups. Thus, this study argues for the need to establish specific goals and targets when promoting a social mix policy and understanding the side effects of introducing such a policy.

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Notes

  1. The average size of the dongs selected for this study (3.45 km2 or 24,394 people) is quite larger than median size of them. It is because that the six largest dongs, normally located in the outskirt of Gyeonggi province, are extraordinarily larger than the others. The average size of these six dongs and the others (92 dongs) are 28.8 and 1.8 km2, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (2012R1A1A2009216 & 400-20120071).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urban and Environmental Research, Goyang Research Institute, Goyang, Republic of Korea

    Seungho Yang

  2. Department of Urban Design and Planning, Hongik University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Hyungkyoo Kim

  3. Department of Urban Design and Studies, Chung-Ang University, 209-707, 84 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, 06974, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Nam Kim

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    Kunhyuck Ahn

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  1. Seungho Yang
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Correspondence to Seung-Nam Kim.

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Yang, S., Kim, H., Kim, SN. et al. What is achieved and lost in living in a mixed-income neighborhood? Findings from South Korea. J Hous and the Built Environ 33, 807–828 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-017-9586-x

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