Ethnic differences in activity spaces as a characteristic of segregation: A study based on mobile phone usage in Tallinn, Estonia

Olle Järv, Kerli Müürisepp, Rein Ahas, Ben Derudder and Frank Witlox
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Olle Järv: University of Tartu, Estonia
Kerli Müürisepp: University of Tartu, Estonia
Rein Ahas: University of Tartu, Estonia
Ben Derudder: Ghent University, Belgium
Frank Witlox: Ghent University, Belgium

Urban Studies, 2015, vol. 52, issue 14, 2680-2698

Abstract: Given ongoing developments altering social and spatial cohesion in urban societies, a more comprehensive understanding of segregation is needed. Taking the ‘mobilities turn’ at heart, we move beyond place-based segregation approaches and focus on the practised urban experiences of individuals through a more comprehensive assessment of their activity spaces. This study contributes to people-based segregation research by mapping the activity spaces of individuals on the basis of mobile phone data in Tallinn (Estonia) and relating these activity spaces to (mainly) the users’ ethnic background (i.e. Estonian versus Russian). Significant ethnic differences in terms of (1) the number of activity locations, (2) the geographical distribution of these locations, and (3) the overall spatial extent of activity spaces are found. We also find that these differences tend to deepen as the temporal framework is extended. We discuss the main implications for segregation research and highlight some avenues for further research.

Keywords: activity space; Estonia; mobile phone data; segregation; spatial mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:52:y:2015:i:14:p:2680-2698

DOI: 10.1177/0042098014550459

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