Urban Inequalities for Urban and Regional Research- myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theUrban Inequalities for Urban and Regional Research. Answer: Introduction Inequalities can be found in all urban areas across the globe. Urban inequality can be summed up as the extreme differences that exist within an urban population in terms of wealth and poverty. The differences can be noted in regards to the capacity of individuals to access various resources such as housing and education. The implications or urban inequalities result in society-wide implications more so in relation to the quality of life lived. It is for this reason that tremendous efforts and resources have been channeled towards determining the causes of urban inequality, as one way of developing mitigation strategies (Musterd, 2005, p.5). For some thinkers and scholars, urban inequalities come about as a result of property in urban land. In other words, they assert that differential property rates form the basis of differences in wealth and power within the society. This write-up on the other hand, argues for the fact that urban inequalities come about as a result of a multiplicit y of various social phenomena rather than property in urban land. From this point of view, therefore, urban inequalities arise out of interacting social factors within a given urban environment. This perspective places the issue of inequality within its context to allow for comprehensive understanding of the challenge at hand. Urban inequalities come about as a result of day to day interactions and transactions. Urban inequalities entail differences in access to housing, services as well as aspects of safety and security. This means analyzing the entirety of the system rather than focusing on city plans (Burgers and Musterd, 2002, p.7) Inequality bears racial, ethnic, historical connotations which means it cannot be tied down to a single causative factor such as the property rates and planning. Understanding urban inequality means analyzing poverty and its causes (O'connor, Tilly, and Bobo, 2001, p.71) To this extent, it means that one has to understand how poverty comes about within a given society. Poverty, ideally revolves around resource inadeq uacies which limit a persons access to opportunities and services. A good example is the inability to access proper education. This further limits an individuals access to opportunities throughout their lifetime. For instance, in most cases it becomes a major obstacle in terms of gaining entry into jobs as well as better payment scales. Such differences in income and education ultimately result in the differences in housing demand, with people seeking to find shelter and settlement in areas they can afford. Another way of understanding the onset of urban inequality is by focusing on the values systems within a given society. This means analyzing the motivations, norms and factors that a society observes in its daily interactions. Wealth and power are some of the most celebrated tenets in most societies, in this case therefore, a great deal of efforts and resources are directed towards amassing wealth and gaining power in society (Bobo and Massagli, 2001, p.9). Daily activities and interactions are thus made up of actions and efforts aimed at enhanci ng, covering, or transcending various classes of the status quo. When analyzed from the context of urban inequality, decisions and actions that are made in relation to socio-economic status within a society also influence the prevalence of inequality. In other words, decisions such as employment opportunities or access to healthcare are influenced by an individuals socio-economic standing within the society (Jargowsky, 2002, p18). To put this example into context one would focus on the choice of housing between the rich and the poor. The rich will prefer to stay within neighborhoods that reflect their status. This then leaves the poor confined to neighborhoods that they can afford (Parker, 2010, p.21). This results in differences in geographical placement and planning decisions. Suburbanization is another major factor that can be considered when attempting to define urban inequality. As cities expand, the emergent areas become more attractive resulting in a major shift from the inner city towards to the robust new areas. Conclusively, it is evident that urban inequalities are likely to rise even as knowledge alterations and globalization continue to take root across the globe. While this paper strives to establish the root cause of its existence, it is does not offer solutions to how it can be minimized. It is clear that urban inequality has far reaching implications for the well-being of the society. The importance of understanding the root cause of urban inequality is that it provides the right footing in regards to the development of mitigation strategies. Having understood the fact that social phenomena are the root causes of urban inequality, there is a need to engage in discussions regarding some of the approaches that can be established to combat the growing social menace. References Bobo, L.D. and Massagli, M.P., 2001. Stereotyping and urban inequality. Urban inequality: Evidence from four cities, pp.89-162. Burgers, J. and Musterd, S., 2002. Understanding urban inequality: a model based on existing theories and an empirical illustration. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, 26(2), pp.403-413. Jargowsky, Paul A. (2002). "Sprawl, concentration of poverty, and urban inequality." Urban sprawl: Causes, consequences, and policy responses 39-72. Musterd, S., 2005. Social and ethnic segregation in Europe: levels, causes, and effects. Journal of urban affairs, 27(3), pp.331-348. O'connor, A., Tilly, C. and Bobo, L. eds., 2001. Urban inequality: Evidence from four cities. Russell Sage Foundation. Parker, K. F. (2010). Unequal crime decline: Theorizing race, urban inequality, and criminal violence. New York: New York University Press.