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 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.