GECO

Research Team: Marco Percoco, Ilaria Malisan, Giovanni Righetto, Chiara Serra, Antonio Derosa

 

GECO studies the impact of urban regeneration projects on multidimensional inequality at neighbourhood level in Milan. Urban regeneration projects affect inequality as residents with lower incomes are displaced to cheaper neighbourhoods by increased housing prices, while more affluent citizens are attracted to the gentrified areas. Relocation may have sizeable effects on income inequality and demographic fabric within and across neighbourhoods and may change the demand for and accessibility to services and opportunities experienced by disadvantaged residents across neighbourhoods. GECO examines the impact of urban regeneration projects through the collection of novel neighbourhood level data on: a) macro and micro accessibility to services and amenities; b) the perception of opportunities and inclusion, and combines them with administrative data on economic, demographic and political variables, to construct detailed measures of inequality. With these data, we will explore the unequal socio-economic and political implications of gentrification processes and how they change the socio-economic landscape of Milan’s neighbourhoods. Finally, we create and distribute novel tools that allow policymakers to evaluate and monitor the potential unequal impact of gentrification processes and identify evidence-based policy recommendations to effectively manage these processes to minimize resulting inequalities.
With a focus on Milan, we tackle the following research questions: What is the overall picture of urban inequalities? What is the impact of urban regeneration projects on urban inequality and access to services? What is the perception of social inclusion and opportunities and how are attitudes towards others? Are they influenced by the neighbourhood we live in? How does gentrification affect individual behaviours, perceptions and attitudes towards others? What policy actions can minimize the unequal impact of urban regeneration projects on individuals and households?