Poster #95 - Social Class Composition, Residential Segregation, and Social Capital—A Story for South Jersey

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

Social capital plays a crucial role in accessing life opportunities, yet its accumulation is shaped by social class composition and segregation. While prior research has examined social class-based variations in social capital, limited attention has been given to its spatial dimensions, restricting the understanding of localized disparities. Addressing this gap, this study explores how social class composition and segregation influence the stock of different types of social capital at the local level in South Jersey. Utilizing data from Opportunity Insights and the American Community Survey (ACS), it categorizes zip code areas based on occupational structures, assesses class segregation through the Location Quotient (LQ), and applies spatial mapping and regression analysis to examine social capital disparities. The findings indicate that bottom-SES segregated areas experience lower levels of bridging and linking social capital, top-SES segregated areas exhibit higher levels of these forms of social capital, and middle-SES concentration is strongly linked to increased bridging social capital and civic engagement. These results underscore class-based and spatial inequalities in social capital and suggest that fostering mixed-income neighborhoods may enhance social connectivity and expand life opportunities for disadvantaged populations in South Jersey.

Author

• Yanan Li, University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
  Presenting Author