Disparities in residential environment and satisfaction among urban residents in Dalian, China

Abstract

Rapid socio-economic development <span class="hitHilite">in</span> China has increased social inequalities <span class="hitHilite">in</span> various areas. So far, there has been considerable literature which studied objective <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">disparities</span>, but little research has investigated the differences <span class="hitHilite">in</span> residents' <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span>. Using large-scale 2006 <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> survey data from Dalian, this paper examines the degree of <span class="hitHilite">disparities</span> from three aspects: <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> location, housing characteristics, as well as <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span>. Results suggest that significant income-based <span class="hitHilite">disparities</span> <span class="hitHilite">in</span> <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">environment</span> do exist <span class="hitHilite">in</span> Dalian. An investigation of the most vulnerable group yielded results consistent with existing knowledge of inequalities. It is shown that a higher ratio of low-income residents live <span class="hitHilite">in</span> less livable neighborhoods and smaller housing space, while having a lower rate of homeownership and <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span> than other groups. Further, the paper examines how housing reform <span class="hitHilite">in</span> China influences <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">disparities</span>. Results indicate that low-income residents are faced with housing affordability problems under the market system as they have a lower ratio of owning commodity housing. However, the housing market provides them the much needed housing supply and choices, and is thus likely to increase their likelihood of <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span>. For the high-income group, although their housing space increases greatly through the housing market, it may not outweigh the various locational and pricing advantages often associated with the past work unit housing. It is found that owning commodity housing has a lower probability of <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span> for them. As home ownership does not necessarily improve the <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">satisfaction</span> level for low-income residents, it is suggested that adequate provisions of low-rent housing together with strict implementation of income criteria to be eligible for applying subsidized housing might be helpful to reduce <span class="hitHilite">residential</span> <span class="hitHilite">disparities</span>. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved