Residential Segregation, Housing Policy and Territorial Planning in the Basque Country (Spain)

Abstract

Despite the growing economic disparity and its reflection in the territory through residential segregation, few studies relate residential segregation with the housing policy developed in the Basque Country. Therefore, this study aims to analyze residential segregation and examine its relationship with public housing policy. The Basque Country was selected as an instrumental case study due to its high level of public housing construction compared to the rest of Spain. A quantitative methodology was used focused on the statistical analysis of economic, social, and housing indicators. The Geo-Segregation Analyzer and ArcGIS software facilitated the measurement of segregation and its geographic visualization. Areas have been identified that concentrate a greater degree of vulnerability due to having municipalities with an industrial past that have been subjected to reconversion processes. Incipient trends of displacement of vulnerability in the most peripheral areas are also observed. However, no strong correlations have been found between a greater provision of public housing and greater segregation, although geographical associations have been found in certain areas. The study concludes that the integration of housing policy in territorial planning could mitigate segregation. Likewise, adapting the promotion of public housing based on levels of vulnerability, avoiding excessive concentrations and considering location factors, can promote social equity throughout the territory.