Spatial Segregation and Quality of Life: Empirical Analysis of Medium-Sized Cities of Buenos Aires Province

Abstract

In Latin America, there are few empirical studies that analyze the spatial segregation and quality of life at intra-urban scales and the existing association between the two categories. Neighborhood spatial configuration influences human behavior because the population is segregated in a systematic, not random, pattern. This research measures spatial segregation and quality of life in two midsize cities of Buenos Aires Province in Argentina, by evaluating from a statistical and geographical point of view how the variations in spatial segregation impact the quality-of-life index. Thematic mapping and scattered plots allowed us to visualize the spatial arrangement of residential areas according to both categories. While in both cities there is an associated pattern of distribution between the two categories, the smaller city showed a better performance.