Spatial mismatch and livelihoods in a fast-growing lower middle-income city: Praia, Cape Verde

Abstract

This paper evaluates public transport accessibility to formal and informal employment opportunities in a city in a middle-income country: Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Due to geographic constraints and rapid growth of population, income, road network, and car ownership, employment is dispersed throughout the city. Public transport is limited in terms of geographic coverage and connectivity. Accessibility is evaluated in terms of the number of bus trips required to access work places and the walking times to bus stops. The results show that deprived areas are at a disadvantage in the access to formal employment opportunities when comparing with more affluent areas. Some areas also have limited accessibility to spaces for informal employment, when considering public transport options and competition for these spaces