Residential pathways: Understanding moving dynamics in gentrifying neighborhoods through a multi-dimensional sequence analysis

Source abstract

Gentrification and its effects on residential mobility have been widely studied, yet little attention has been given to the diverse socio-spatial trajectories of individuals moving into or out of gentrifying neighborhoods. This study addresses this gap by using detailed register data to examine longitudinal residential mobility patterns within a gentrifying city. We employ a multi-channel sequence analysis to track the movement trajectories of individuals within the Rotterdam region, focusing specifically on those who relocated to or from neighborhoods identified as gentrifying by policymakers. Consequently, we examine how these trajectories intersect with other life-course characteristics of individuals to construct a typology of the diverse residential profiles emerging within the gentrification process. Our findings showcase that residential mobility in gentrifying neighborhoods does not follow a straightforward vacancy chain of low-income households moving out and gentrifiers moving in. Instead, gentrifiers increasingly move within these neighborhoods, gradually limiting the housing opportunities of low-income individuals.