Ethnic Segregation in German Cities: A multidimensional comparison accounting for measurement problems

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Janna Teltemann
• Subject Area: Empirical Social Research
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 499538571

The analyses of causes and dimensions of social inequality is a central focus of empirical social research. A potential determinant of social inequality is the place of residence. Residence, or neighborhoods, can impact life chances because the place of residence determines spatial proximity to resources, infrastructure and contacts that often are distributed unequally across neighborhoods. In light of the increasing ethnic diversity in many Western societies, knowledge about the effects of a certain neighborhood on integration processes becomes more important. The analyses of causes, prevalence and effects of residential segregation is a central focus of urban sociology since its origins. Research questions in this area are however often hampered already at the beginning, namely when it comes to the task of measuring segregation validly and robustly. Many existing indices and measures of segregation are insufficient in this respect, mostly because they are aspatial. They do not allow comparisons between different units (e.g. cities) and they are likely biased due to an inadequate operationalization of the respective (spatial) subunits. The proposed project is targeting this deficit. The aim is to analyze segregation between immigrants and non-immigrants (“ethnic segregation”) in German cities by employing an innovative approach that addresses problems of common segregation measures. Comparable and reliable information about segregation is required in order to evaluate integration chances of immigrants. However, so far, nationwide analyses for Germany with spatial segregation measures do not exist. A comparison of opportunities for integration between German cities therefore is merely possible. The proposed project aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive spatial analyses of ethnic segregation in German cities. The degree of ethnic residential segregation will be analyzed in a multiscalar approach with data from the German Census 2011. The analyses covers the dimensions of evenness and clustering and renders segregation profiles for 34 German cities, as well as maps which depict those areas in a city that show significant concentrations of immigrants. The innovative approach addresses well-known measurement problems such as the Checkerboard- and the MAU-Problem. Results of the analyses will be published on a new website that enables an intuitive visualization of segregation processes. The project also serves as a preparation for an efficient analyses of the forthcoming Census 2002 data with regard to segregation and its development over time. Further, online workshops for stakeholders in urban development and planning will be organized in cooperation with the Research and Transfer Office for Migration Policy at the University of Hildesheim.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants