More economic diversity, less vulnerability? The case of Quito

Abstract

Economic residential segregation is the separation of social groups in different areas of a city according to their income level. Neighborhoods have their urban characteristics or attributes. Active attributes can limit or improve access to goods or services, functionalities, or capabilities required to meet citizens' needs. This article focuses on economic diversity as an active attribute. Economic diversity is understood as the number of different types and sizes of companies represented in the same territory. Traditionally, urban planning has had two main views on economic diversity within neighborhoods. On the one hand, the proposal of the “right to the city” considers that economic diversity is an active attribute that promotes residents' access to goods and services, functionalities, and capacities to escape poverty. On the other hand, for the theory of functionalism, economic diversity is an active attribute that prevents income from improving. This article explores the relationship between the economic diversity score and vulnerability, taking the city of Quito as a case study. After calculating, mapping, and establishing the relationships between the two variables by neighborhood, it is concluded that economic diversity is an active attribute of Quito due to residential segregation and can limit the income and ability of residents of marginalized communities to escape poverty.