Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality

Abstract The relationship between social bonds and economic inequality has long been inseparable, and the integrity of social bonds networks facilitates access to economic opportunities. In urban development, physical space provides a place for the social connection process, and diversified physical...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pingzhen Lu, Fangzhou Xia, Jinming Yan, Jianfu Shen, Eddie Chi Man Hui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-04-01
Series:Discover Cities
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00085-z
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850139301541576704
author Pingzhen Lu
Fangzhou Xia
Jinming Yan
Jianfu Shen
Eddie Chi Man Hui
author_facet Pingzhen Lu
Fangzhou Xia
Jinming Yan
Jianfu Shen
Eddie Chi Man Hui
author_sort Pingzhen Lu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The relationship between social bonds and economic inequality has long been inseparable, and the integrity of social bonds networks facilitates access to economic opportunities. In urban development, physical space provides a place for the social connection process, and diversified physical forms also determine the diversity of the structure of the social network. Physical isolation is one of the most common physical structure in cities, mainly including gated communities and natural partitions. Cutting off the physical space objectively deprives social bonds and networks. Prolonged physical isolation disrupts the connection between social interaction and economic inequality. However, this relationship has been less explored. In this paper, we take Beijing, China, a megacity that contains almost all forms of physical isolation from the community and traffic, as an example. We focus on analyzing the development and change of rules of social bonds and economic inequality when urban space is divided by major physical isolation structures based on spatial and individual portrait data.
format Article
id doaj-art-cbd7a46f5c104aa9af94fbdce6c7f4bb
institution OA Journals
issn 3004-8311
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Cities
spelling doaj-art-cbd7a46f5c104aa9af94fbdce6c7f4bb2025-08-20T02:30:20ZengSpringerDiscover Cities3004-83112025-04-012112010.1007/s44327-025-00085-zPhysical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequalityPingzhen Lu0Fangzhou Xia1Jinming Yan2Jianfu Shen3Eddie Chi Man Hui4Department of Land and Real Estate Management, School of Public Administration & Policy, Renmin University of ChinaDepartment of Land and Real Estate Management, School of Public Administration & Policy, Renmin University of ChinaDepartment of Land and Real Estate Management, School of Public Administration & Policy, Renmin University of ChinaDepartment of Building and Real Estate, Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityDepartment of Public and International Affairs, City University of Hong KongAbstract The relationship between social bonds and economic inequality has long been inseparable, and the integrity of social bonds networks facilitates access to economic opportunities. In urban development, physical space provides a place for the social connection process, and diversified physical forms also determine the diversity of the structure of the social network. Physical isolation is one of the most common physical structure in cities, mainly including gated communities and natural partitions. Cutting off the physical space objectively deprives social bonds and networks. Prolonged physical isolation disrupts the connection between social interaction and economic inequality. However, this relationship has been less explored. In this paper, we take Beijing, China, a megacity that contains almost all forms of physical isolation from the community and traffic, as an example. We focus on analyzing the development and change of rules of social bonds and economic inequality when urban space is divided by major physical isolation structures based on spatial and individual portrait data.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00085-z
spellingShingle Pingzhen Lu
Fangzhou Xia
Jinming Yan
Jianfu Shen
Eddie Chi Man Hui
Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
Discover Cities
title Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
title_full Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
title_fullStr Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
title_full_unstemmed Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
title_short Physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
title_sort physical isolation is durably affecting the relationship between social bonds and economic inequality
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00085-z
work_keys_str_mv AT pingzhenlu physicalisolationisdurablyaffectingtherelationshipbetweensocialbondsandeconomicinequality
AT fangzhouxia physicalisolationisdurablyaffectingtherelationshipbetweensocialbondsandeconomicinequality
AT jinmingyan physicalisolationisdurablyaffectingtherelationshipbetweensocialbondsandeconomicinequality
AT jianfushen physicalisolationisdurablyaffectingtherelationshipbetweensocialbondsandeconomicinequality
AT eddiechimanhui physicalisolationisdurablyaffectingtherelationshipbetweensocialbondsandeconomicinequality